Transmode Broadens CWDM Portfolio

STOCKHOLM -- Transmode Systems AB, a leading supplier of transmission systems for fibre optic networks, has today announced an innovative WDM solution that promises to redefine the price/performance benchmark for Metro Access applications.

Transmode’s solution, the Pluggable Transponder, which is protected by IPR, is a totally unique concept in Optical Networking, representing a technology disconnect that has the potential to revolutionise how Metro Access networks are built.

The Pluggable Transponder effectively collapses the functionality of Transmode’s existing subrack-based transponder into a pluggable, standards-based form-factor, providing an unprecedented level of functionality in a device costing little more than today’s CWDM GBIC or SFP devices. Like standard GBICs, the Pluggable Transponder is designed to be plugged directly into the WAN port of devices such as Layer 2 switches. However, that is where the similarity ends.

“To date, Service Providers have been unwilling to deploy devices such as CWDM GBICs due to the network management issues these products present”, said Isaac Olasoko, Transmode’s CEO.

Unlike standard GBICs, the Pluggable Transponder is part of an end-to-end Optical Networking solution that can be managed all the way to the client port, providing a new optical demarcation point on the customer premises. This feature makes it highly suitable for deployment by Service Providers for the delivery of managed services.

“Whilst GBICs can prove to be a viable alternative to external transponder-based solutions for Enterprise applications, Service Providers wish to have end-to-end control of the transmission domain from within the optical-layer management system” continued Mr. Olasoko. “The Pluggable Transponder allows them to achieve this whilst radically lowering the cost of deploying new services.”

Another key advantage of the Pluggable Transponder is the flexibility it provides.

“Today’s GBIC solutions are being deployed for Ethernet connectivity between locations in a metro area, usually by Enterprises leasing dark fibre”, says Michael Crossey, Transmode’s VP of Marketing and Business Development.

“Service Providers will want to offer Metro Ethernet as part of a broader portfolio of services, including storage connectivity and business continuity applications. The Pluggable Transponder, as an extension to Transmode’s existing system, can be used seamlessly together with its standalone transponder-based solutions, allowing operators to cover all eventualities from a single managed platform. Of course, it can also be used in conjunction with our CWDM amplifiers and Optical Add/Drop Multiplexors to provide a new level of networking sophistication.”

Although Transmode’s initial focus for the Pluggable Transponder is the Ethernet segment, over time it expects the concept to be embraced by other players such as storage system vendors and Next-Gen SONET/SDH platform manufacturers. Transmode will be in a prime position to capitalise on the growing trend towards integration of WDM technology on an ever-increasing range of products.

Transmode’s Pluggable Transponder is currently undergoing interoperability testing with a leading Ethernet switch vendor. The product will become commercially available in the Q4 2003 timeframe.

In a separate release:

Transmode Systems AB, a leading supplier of transmission systems for fibre optic networks, has today launched a significant enhancement to its market-leading CWDM platform, the System 1100.

The Universal Aggregator family is a modular set of plug-in units for the System 1100 with universal protocol support, allowing up to 8 client channels, each of which can be different protocols, to be aggregated on to a single wavelength. The Universal Aggregator family supports the new Generic Framing Procedure (GFP) standard allowing interoperability with other vendor platforms and, more importantly, with existing SDH/SONET networks.

Two main units are available within the Universal Aggregator family, which can be used individually or cascaded together to create the closest possible match to customer requirements. A third unit, known as a Port Concentrator, is also available to further increase the bandwidth efficiency per wavelength.

The Universal Aggregator family comprises:

Each of the units is available with pluggable optics on both the line and client side, based on the SFP standard. The line-side optics can be configured either as coloured WDM interfaces, or standard 1310nm interfaces for direct connection to SDH systems, or closed systems where WDM is not required. These configuration options, together with the modular approach to the overall family concept and the system’s Universal Protocol support, provide customers with unprecedented levels of flexibility.

The Universal Aggregator family also supports Transmode’s unique “Plug and Play” functionality, with automatic client protocol and bit-rate detection, allowing operators to significantly reduce provisioning time and therefore operational expenses.

In the near future, Customer-Premises Equipment or “Stackable” form-factor versions of the Universal Aggregator will be available, allowing the units to be deployed as standalone feeder systems to a metro collector ring, for example.

“Today’s launch of the Universal Aggregator family is highly significant for a number of reasons”, said Isaac Olasoko, CEO of Transmode Systems. “Firstly, it gives our customers unprecedented bandwidth efficiency, allowing up to 128 channels to be multiplexed on to a single fibre pair using low-cost CWDM technology. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, it allows Transmode to address the Next-Gen SDH/SONET market, thanks to our support of standards such as GFP. Transmode is a pioneer of low cost Metro Access systems, and today’s announcement provides customers with a Metro Edge aggregation solution that can be used to leverage the large installed base of SDH/SONET to deliver new broadband services to Enterprises.”

The Universal Aggregator family will become commercially available over the next six months, with the first unit, the UA5500, planned for release in September 2003.

Transmode Systems AB