Verizon First Global Service Provider to Deploy 100G on U.S. Long-Haul Network

NEW YORK, Sept. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In another industry first, Verizon has deployed 100G (gigabits per second) technology on an ultra-long-haul optical system on a portion of the company's U.S. backbone network.

The company plans to deploy this next-generation technology on more than 10 routes in 2011, taking advantage of the advanced technology to significantly reduce latency – the time it takes for data sent from its entry point in the network to reach its destination -- as well as provide greater capacity per fiber and to help control costs.

Using Ciena's 100G coherent optical transport solution – the same equipment Verizon used for its 100G deployment in Europe earlier this year -- this high-capacity, ultra-long-haul system helps customers move time-sensitive information more effectively between strategic business locations.

"We're seeing not only growth in traffic, but also in the need for immediacy from our customers that are managing financial transactions, health care data exchange, energy services and entertainment on-the-go," said Ihab Tarazi, vice president of global network planning at Verizon. "With 100G, Verizon will be able to help meet those demands more efficiently and with better performance."

Francois Locoh-Donou, senior vice president of Ciena's global products group, said: "We deeply value our strategic collaboration with Verizon, and are pleased to continue working together with them on 100G solutions for long-haul and metro opportunities in addition to intelligent mesh switching. The maturity and performance of our market-leading 100G technology is proven in our experience with 100G deployments across the globe, and together with Verizon we will continue to deliver the benefits of this technology to customers with critical traffic connectivity requirements."

Moving to 100G enables Verizon to increase bandwidth efficiency on its existing fiber infrastructure. By installing new equipment on the network while retaining use of the current fiber system, the company can carry up to 10 times the amount of network traffic carried on a standard route. Optical efficiencies also are gained from carrying traffic on a single 100G wavelength as opposed to 10 wavelengths, each operating at 10 gigabits per second.

As businesses launch integrated solutions such as cloud computing services, security, and unified communications and collaboration applications, consumers are advancing growth through applications such as video streaming and online gaming. The advanced 100G technology improves the overall efficiency of traffic to help meet this increased demand.

"We've reached the inflection point where 100G makes sense from a network perspective as well as a technology and a cost perspective," said Tarazi.

For the past several years Verizon has been a dominant force in 100G technology, beginning in November 2007 when the company successfully completed the industry's first field trial of 100G optical traffic on a live system. In 2010 Verizon completed an industry first with a field trial transmitting high bit-rate technologies, including 100G, 450G and 1T (1 terabit or 1000G), coexisting on the same fiber.

Earlier this year Verizon deployed the world's first standards-based, multivendor 100G Ethernet link for an IP backbone on a portion of the company's European network between Paris and Frankfurt.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 106 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.  

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SOURCE Verizon