Ciena expands its photonic layer intelligence and management capabilities via new WaveLogic Photonics tools.

Dan O'Shea, Analyst, Heavyreading.com

March 10, 2014

3 Min Read
OFC: Ciena Smartens Up Photonic Layer

SAN FRANCISCO -- OFC 2014 -- Early in this week of OFC 2014, it's becoming clear already that optical networking vendors are working to get the photonics layer of the network in tune with the anticipated arrival of SDN and NFV. Count Ciena Corp. (NYSE: CIEN) as part of that trend with the announcement of its WaveLogic Photonics software-driven capabilities for packet optical networks. (See Ciena Unveils WaveLogic Photonics and Defining SDN & NFV.)

The new tools include functions for the vendor's OneConnect Intelligent Control Plane expanding its network visibility and intelligence capabilities from the OTN switching layer across the photonic layer; Smart Raman automated, pre-activation testing and monitoring of fiber conditions; and PinPoint analytics software integrating Optical Time Domain Reflectometer capabilities into network elements to enable more precise fiber monitoring and the creation of fiber loss profiles.

"All layers of the network need to become more programmable to application needs," says Mike Adams, vice president of product and technical marketing at Ciena. "The more visibility you have into the photonic layer, the easier it is to think of that layer as programmable."

Why this matters
We're starting to see optical vendors respond to carrier demand for more software control capabilities throughout the network. Infinera did something quite similar with its own OFC announcement regarding new multi-layer control plane capabilities.

This might be some recognition that SDN and NFV are having an impact at every layer of the network -- if not directly, then at least as a ripple effect. The entire network is changing with the arrival via SDN and NFV of new levels of programmability and virtualization, and not just discreet parts like data centers or enterprises with distributed branches.

Ciena has had a funny little love/hate relationship with the term "SDN." The company steered wide of even mentioning it in its positioning back in 2012. Then, at last fall's Ethernet & SDN Expo, Ciena famously claimed that SDN was "underhyped." With the vendor's recent partnership announcement with Ericsson, we saw acknowledgment of the need for tighter integration between IP/Ethernet and optical. Now we are seeing Ciena's SDN story come together a bit more as it positions its lower network layers to support the SDN migration more directly affecting the upper layers.

"Before we even get to SDN, service providers are realizing that time-to-service is a critical element to differentiation," Adams said. "So they want the capability to point and click for automated turnup of services, as well as get service restored without a truck roll if there's a problem."

— Dan O'Shea, Managing Editor, Light Reading

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Want to learn more about SDN and NFV? Check out the agenda for Light Reading's Big Telecom Event (BTE), which will take place June 17-18 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers. The event combines the educational power of interactive conference sessions devised and hosted by Heavy Reading's experienced industry analysts with multi-vendor interoperability and proof-of-concept networking and application showcases. For more on the event, the topics, and the stellar service provider speaker lineup, see Telecommunication Luminaries to Discuss the Hottest Industry Trends at Light Reading's Big Telecom Event in June.

About the Author(s)

Dan O'Shea

Analyst, Heavyreading.com

You want Dans? We got 'em! This one, "Fancy" Dan O'Shea, has been covering the telecom industry for 20 years, writing about virtually every technology segment and winning several ASBPE awards in the process. He previously served as editor-in-chief of Telephony magazine, and was the founding editor of FierceTelecom. Grrrr! Most recently, this sleep-deprived father of two young children has been a Chicago-based freelance writer, and continues to pontificate on non-telecom topics such as fantasy sports, craft beer, baseball and other subjects that pay very little but go down well at parties. In his spare time he claims to be reading Ulysses (yeah, right), owns fantasy sports teams that almost never win, and indulges in some fieldwork with those craft beers. So basically, it's time to boost those bar budgets, folks!

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