GENEVA -- Lightstorm Networks, enabling next generation packet network services with carrier-grade Ethernet silicon, today announced the availability of its first product, the Brooklyn-10, a carrier-grade 20Gb Layer 2 switch with support for next generation carrier Ethernet services for PBB-TE (PBT), T-MPLS, and the latest OAM standards. It is the first Ethernet switch Application Specific Standard Product (ASSP) purpose-built for the carrier market and developed in partnership with leading carriers over several years. The Brooklyn-10 offers the latest carrier Ethernet services at wire-rate speed without the requirement of complex NPU or FPGA programming – an industry first.

The time is right for purpose-built Ethernet silicon. Carrier-grade Ethernet is needed to leverage the cost and simplicity of Ethernet, but to be effectively utilized by carriers it must have the network scalability, QoS, monitoring and protection capabilities enabled by prior generations of technologies such as ATM and SONET. Driven by emerging standards, carrier networks are now rapidly adopting a network model that utilizes new packet technologies – such as Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) and carrier Ethernet standards such as Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB) and PBB-TE (PBT) – at the metro edge and thru the optical core. Combined with a robust silicon ecosystem, Lightstorm is designed to take Ethernet and MPLS further into the most demanding networks that require guaranteed service delivery, unprecedented scalability and high reliability.

“The Carrier Ethernet market requires significantly different features than the Enterprise market. The business models between the two segments are very different where the carriers look to use their networks to generate monthly recurring revenue and enterprise users generally view their network as a one-time purchase fixed asset. Lightstorm Networks has recognized this distinct difference and with the Brooklyn-10 chip has introduced an Ethernet switch in silicon which services the needs of the carriers for network scalability, OAM, QoS, and protection,” said Eve Griliches, Program Manager at IDC. “Lightstorm Networks introduction of the Brooklyn-10 is well timed to correspond to the new wave of designs that OEMs are undertaking to address the carriers need for Ethernet based services.”

Lightstorm Networks