Ciena Enhances MetroDirector K2

LINTHICUM, Md. -- CIENA® Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), a leading provider of global network solutions, today announced the availability of new features for its MetroDirector K2(tm) platform, enabling new carrier-class enterprise data services directly over existing service provider networks. For service providers, this means fast access to new markets, more flexible data offerings, and a more cost-efficient network. For enterprises, it means the public network is now a viable alternative as an economical and customized data network solution with greater levels of service protection.

As part of CIENA's ongoing LightWorks(tm) Services strategy, MetroDirector K2 now offers support for advanced Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) services, allowing service providers to begin offering switched and private line data and TDM services in a common platform over one integrated network - resulting in lower capital, space, power and sparing costs while opening new enterprise market opportunities to service providers' current networks. CIENA also announced the availability of E1 support on MetroDirector K2 in SDH environments, enhancing its range of flexibility from DS-1/E1 to OC-192/STM-64.

In the current metro infrastructure, multiple networks of switches are used to deliver different services, and each service is mapped separately onto SONET/SDH paths. This method of service delivery consumes valuable central office space and power, prohibits end-to-end network management, wastes bandwidth inventory, and results in longer provisioning times.

MetroDirector K2 combines the functionality of add/drop multiplexers, digital cross-connects, ATM switches and 10/100/1000 Ethernet switches into a single high-density platform, which lowers capital expenses, improves bandwidth utilization, reduces overall operations costs, and provides faster service delivery.

With K2's new Fast Ethernet Bridging (FEB) and Gigabit Ethernet Bridging (GEB) cards, carriers can use the platform to create and manage point-to-point and packet-switched data services in their native formats and with carrier-class quality of service (QoS) and protection. Specifically, K2's GEB and FEB cards enable a suite of new enterprise offerings over the carrier network, including Guaranteed Ethernet Private Lines, Shared Ethernet Private Lines, and Switched Ethernet Virtual LANs (VLANs).

Guaranteed Ethernet Private Line services provide a direct 10/100 or GbE interface to customers at data rates ranging from 50 Mbps to full rate. Shared Ethernet Private Line services provide a cost-effective enterprise solution by securely combining traffic from multiple customers on one SONET/SDH channel with standardized VLAN tags. Flexible shared services can be dual-rate provisioned in 64 Kbps increments to accommodate guaranteed availability (minimum) and dynamic traffic bursts (maximum) so users don't overpay for unused bandwidth. Switched Ethernet VLANs provide secure, shared multi-point Ethernet services, enabling enterprises to save money by using the existing public network as a fast, seamless and secure private data network.

"Carriers are looking for ways to expand their enterprise data service portfolios without having to reengineer their networks or train operations staff on entirely new processes," said Pat Matthews, senior analyst at The Yankee Group. "The advantage that K2 brings to the network is that it offers a single platform to quickly and efficiently introduce new data services in the network environment that service providers already have and know."

"These enhancements to MetroDirector K2 are part of the implementation of our LightWorks Services strategy. We're integrating native data networking capabilities directly into the existing SONET/SDH layer so carriers can profitably offer the services that enterprises want and need," said Francois Locoh-Donou, vice president of marketing at CIENA. "Carriers' Ethernet business opportunity alone is expected to be more than $1 billion within two years. With features like these on K2 and other CIENA solutions, we're helping our customers tap these new markets quickly and efficiently."

Ciena Corp.