OTTAWA -- Tropic Networks Inc., a metropolitan optical IP startup based in Ottawa and Boston, today announced two key appointments to its board of directors - Michael Unger, the former president of Nortel Networks Ltd.'s optical networks unit, and Gianluca Rattazzi, a seasoned Silicon Valley entrepreneur who has built three successful companies, Meridian Data Inc., Parallan Computer Inc. and P-Com Inc. Unger spent 38 years with Nortel, the last ten leading Nortel's Optical Networks Business Unit into the world's dominant optical networking player. Over that period, Nortel's share of the global optical networking market grew to a market-leading 43 per cent.

"We're absolutely thrilled to have somebody of Mike's experience and stature endorse our vision by joining our board," said Kevin Rankin, Tropic's president and CEO. "In a very hot space, Mike's decision to join Tropic clearly separates us from the pack. He has unequalled relationships at the most senior levels with the key global telecommunications companies that we plan to do business with. His vast experience across the full range of optical networking platforms, including IP, will be invaluable to us."

http://www.tropicnetworks.com