MCI WorldCom to Trial World's Highest-Capacity
Next-Generation Optical Solution from Nortel
Networks
(is this technology fully compatibile with NN's platform-Cambrian ?!)
System capable of more than a terabit per second capacity per fiber optic strand
DALLAS, May 6 /PRNewswire/ - MCI WorldCom, one of the world's largest providers of global telecommunications
services, has committed to a live commercial trial of a terabit per second optical networking solution using Nortel Networks
(NYSE/TSE: NT) next-generation optical technology. The in-service trial, to be implemented in the fourth quarter of 1999,
utilizes Nortel Networks recently announced OPTera 1600G optical amplifiers for multi-wavelength networking to deliver
unprecedented per-fiber bandwidth. The trial will be conducted over MCI WorldCom's existing network fiber.
''With this live trial, we are demonstrating our ongoing commitment to providing the network capacity and performance
needed to support our customers' needs,'' said Joe Cook, executive director, Network Equipment Engineering, MCI
WorldCom. ''This technology has the potential to deliver the tremendous capacity we will need to enable advanced
applications and Internet-based services well into the new Millennium.''
''MCI WorldCom has had many industry-leading accomplishments, and this trial marks yet another commitment on their
part to the advancement of global telecommunications,'' said Mike Unger, president, Optical Networks, Nortel Networks.
''We share that commitment to continuous development of leading-edge technology, which will enable creation of the
Optical Internet, a reliable, high-capacity and manageable network capable of supporting the services of the future.''
The terabit system is enabled by Nortel Networks latest optical amplifier, the newest innovation in the suite of
Multi-Wavelength Optical Repeater (MOR) Systems. Nortel Networks OPTera 1600G is scalable to 1.6 Terabits per
second on a single fiber, and provides many advantages for service providers, including maximizing the use of existing fiber,
increasing capacity modularly as bandwidth is needed, realizing cost savings for least cost per bit routing, delivering highest
reliability for all types of traffic (ATM, IP, SONET, SDH), and managing the network end-to-end for ease of use. The
OPTera 1600G will be available for use in networks around the world in the year 2000.
The advanced technology enabling such high capacity is Dense-Wavelength Division Multiplexing (D-WDM) whereby the
light is split into multiple channels, each carrying network traffic. The OPTera 1600G provides 160 channels on a 10 Gbps
platform.
Nortel Networks delivers value to customers around the world through Unified Networks solutions, spanning mission-critical
telephony and IP-optimized networks. Customers include public and private enterprises and institutions; Internet service
providers; local, long-distance, cellular and PCS communications companies, cable television carriers, and utilities.
Nortel Networks' common shares are listed on the New York, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and London stock
exchanges. Nortel Networks had 1998 revenues of $17.6 billion and has approximately 75,000 employees worldwide. |
