NEW YORK -- Verizon is moving to a next-generation 100G metro network in the U.S. that will deliver improved scalability, functionality and efficiency.

To meet Verizon's mission of offering its customers high-capacity video and wireless solutions, the company will modernize its metro optical network, using scalable, packet-optimized transport solutions from Ciena and Cisco. Using these 100G flexible CDC ROADMs will enable Verizon to advance and scale its network while maintaining existing services and reducing service-activation times as well as network operation and maintenance costs.

"Ciena and Cisco met not only our technology requirements but the aggressive timeline to deploy our next-generation 100G-and-above metro network," said Lee Hicks, vice president of Verizon network planning.

Verizon will test and deploy Ciena's metro-optimized 6500 packet optical technology and the Cisco Network Convergence System on portions of its 100G metro network this year, with plans to turn up live traffic in 2016. Supplier volumes will be guided by ongoing testing, support and performance.

This new architecture gives the company the same advantages in its metro network that it has seen in its 100G long-haul network, including increased capacity, superior latency and improved scalability. Verizon is a leader in 100G technology, having successfully completed several industry firsts, beginning in 2007 with a successful field trial of 100G optical traffic on a live system.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ)

Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO)

Ciena Corp. (NYSE: CIEN)