Corrigent Systems Inc. has landed a deal with Japanese carrier KDDI Corp., solidifying its role as a metro transport player specializing in the use of MPLS and RPR to transport packet data over Sonet.

KDDI is looking to use the Corrigent product to supply metro transport power for a nationwide deployment of its Hikari-Plus service, which includes video, voice, and data services for residential customers, according to Corrigent. Corrigent says its CM-100 product will also be used to backhaul wireless traffic for KDDI’s wireless subsidiary, which offers 3G wireless services.

The deal with KDDI shows how a powerful mixture of MPLS, Sonet/SDH, Ethernet, and Resilient Packet Ring Technology are proving their worth to carriers that are trying to roll out next-generation data services while preserving some of their legacy Sonet/SDH networks (see How About a Dry Martini?).

RPR and Ethernet are drawing special attention in the Asian market, where the service providers have been more aggressive in rolling out these Ethernet and IP-based data services (see RPR Finds Its Niche, Corrigent Adds MPLS, and Standardizing Ethernet Services).

"The move to triple-play services over IP will force metro transport equipment vendors to become much more packet savvy," says Scott Clavenna, chief analyst of Heavy Reading, Light Reading's research service.

Clavenna says it's a big deal for Corrigent, one that could make it a survivor in a tough market that's claimed many startups. "They've been around long enough that they needed to announce a top tier customer soon."

Other multiservice provisioning platform and add/drop mux startups have fallen by the wayside, including Appian and Coriolis (see Appian Closes With No Cigar and Coriolis Shuts Down).

The exact terms of the deal were not announced. Corrigent has another deal with Japanese carrier Vic Tokai Corp. (see Aurora Intros DWDM Platform). Corrigent has 140 employees and is still growing, according to company officials.

Corrigent is a subsidiary of public company Orckit Communications Ltd. (Nasdaq: ORCT). Orckit’s shares rose $1.15 (5.15%) to $23.50 in morning trading today.

— R. Scott Raynovich, US Editor, Light Reading

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