EDISON, N.J., and SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Sphera Optical Networks, Inc., a leading metro core network provider, today announced it had contracted, designed and successfully implemented a 10 Gigabit SONET circuit in New York to a major US carrier in only 14 days. By contrast, delivery of such services has traditionally taken anywhere from 60 to 90 days. Under the contract, Sphera provided high capacity, optical connectivity between two leading, New York carrier hotels over its Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) Metro ring supplied by ONI Systems Corp. (NASDAQ: ONIS). The customer accepted the circuit on August 27, 2001. "This further demonstrates Sphera's focus and success," said Rich Van Leeuwen, Sphera's CTO. "Our dedicated engineering and operations team together with ONI's excellent technical support made this a first for any provider. The unprecedented in-service insertion of 10Gbps wavelength services enables us to rapidly address emerging carrier requirements with ONI equipment." Sphera Optical Networks Inc.