LONDON -- Tellabs today announced the Tellabs 8600 managed edge system, a new IP/MPLS based platform that lowers service providers' capital and operating costs and enables them to offer high- speed IP/MPLS based connectivity services and applications more cost- effectively to their customers. The first network deployments of the new system will begin in the first half of 2004. The Yankee Group predicts that the edge switch/router market in which the Tellabs 8600 system competes will grow to $3 billion in 2005.

The new Tellabs 8600 system enhances Tellabs' international data solutions portfolio and, along with the Tellabs(R) 8800 multi-service switch router (MSSR) from the recently acquired Tellabs San Jose organization, makes Tellabs the first vendor to offer complete data solutions that integrate Layer 1 (transport), Layer 2 (switching) and Layer 3 (routing) capabilities. This unique approach enables each service provider to migrate at its own pace to next-generation data networks.

"We understand that operators face limits on capital and operating expenses, so they need to leverage their existing infrastructure and invest strategically," said Anders Gustafsson, president of Tellabs International. "Our data solutions portfolio enables them to offer data profitably using their existing networks, and migrate to IP/MPLS services at their own speed to meet customer needs."

"With the addition of the new platform, Tellabs has products that offer service providers opportunities to increase revenue per user across both the consumer and enterprise space," said Chris Lewis, vice president Europe of the Yankee Group. "We expect to see a steady, long-term migration to MPLS infrastructure, with a hybrid environment dominating for the next five years, and Tellabs' strategy of having a broad portfolio of carrier-class solutions plays well in this hybrid environment."

The Tellabs 8600 managed edge system

The Tellabs 8600 managed edge system combines leading edge IP/MPLS routing hardware with an integrated management system specifically designed for the service provider. It is a carrier class medium capacity (42Gbit/s) platform that extends IP/MPLS from the edge of the core network to the local exchange or even to the customer premises. Service providers can use the Tellabs 8600 system to implement MPLS VPNs (virtual private networks) and Ethernet over MPLS, delivering application aware services such as intranet interconnectivity, extranet, business Internet access and corporate voice with true QoS to their customers. It can also be used as a network infrastructure for aggregating the broadband traffic from consumers and small office home office (SoHo) users. Because it is modular and can scale on densities and entry costs, the Tellabs 8600 system enables service providers to introduce IP/MPLS at their own pace. The new product has been developed at Tellabs' R&D facility in Finland.

An integrated network management system, developed from the company's successful Tellabs(R) 8100 managed access system, provides service providers with the GUI-based point-and-click ease of service provisioning and management traditionally associated with TDM operations. It has tools for activities including network building, element management, service provisioning, service testing and monitoring, which enable a service provider to streamline the service delivery process significantly.

"The new Tellabs 8600 platform takes the service edge closer to the customer than traditional approaches, supporting both high quality business services and best effort consumer services on a single platform," said Mika Heikkinen, vice president and general manager, Tellabs managed access solutions. "This enables service providers to optimize their networks for increased operational efficiency, and to offer customers a range of service qualities and SLAs (service level agreements) so they can develop new revenue streams and deliver profitable data services."

Tellabs' international data solutions portfolio

Tellabs has developed a portfolio of products that enable service providers to deliver profitable data services now and in the future by optimizing their current networks, leveraging and revitalizing their infrastructure and enabling new growth. As well as aggregating traffic for all packet- and cell-based services from all end user segments into a single converged IP/MPLS core, Tellabs provides full support for TDM leased lines, Ethernet private lines and service provisioning over a legacy ATM network. To tie all the products together Tellabs offers comprehensive management solutions to enable service providers to optimize their operational efficiency.

The data solutions portfolio comprises: