More 100 Gbit/s success for Ciena Corp. (NYSE: CIEN) and a cable rumpus in Belgium are at the front of today's European news queue.

RoEduNet, Romania's National Research and Education Network (NREN), has deployed Ciena's coherent 100 Gbit/s optical gear -- namely, its ActivFlex 6500 Packet-Optical Platform and Common Photonic Layer platform -- for Eastern Europe's first live 100 Gigabit Ethernet network. (See Romanian Net Uses Ciena 100G.)

Belgian service provider Telenet is to appeal against a regulatory ruling that will force the country's cable network operators to open up their systems to competitors, reports Reuters. Cable operators around the rest of Europe won't be happy with the precedent set by Belgium's regulator, which has been criticized previously by the European Commission and pressure group Cable Europe for its plans.

Ericsson AB (Nasdaq: ERIC) has expanded its managed services relationship with Telefónica SA (NYSE: TEF) in Brazil, broadening the deal that was first struck in May 2010. (See Ericsson Expands Brazilian Deal and Ericsson Gets a Brazilian.)

The Dutch competition authority has approved the €120 million (US$170 million) acquisition of telecom retailer BelCompany by Vodafone Netherlands , also known as Vodafone Libertel, reports 4-Traders.

— Ray Le Maistre, International Managing Editor, Light Reading