Cisco Enhances Network Technology, Increases Bandwidth for Service Providers

By Rajani Baburajan

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

Cisco announced enhancements to its Internet Protocol over dense wavelength-division multiplexing (IPoDWDM) technology. The new features of the IPoDWDM technology enable service providers to increase network capacity and deliver better services to businesses and consumers.

 

In order to meet the growing bandwidth needs, service providers such as Sprint and Comcast (News - Alert) are upgrading their network infrastructure with higher port speeds that can yield data throughput at 40-gigabit per second (Gbps). Also, they are planning to integrate packet and optical transport layers with IPoDWDM technology, Cisco said.

 

Iyad Tarazi, vice president of network development for Sprint (News - Alert), said: “Sprint's efforts to move to an all-IP platform continue to gain momentum. By converging all types of business applications (voice, video and data) on a common, flexible IP core network, customers can benefit from greater mobility, cost savings, real-time access to people and information and transform the way they do business with next-generation products and services.”

By offering enhancements to its IPoDWDM technology and Cisco XR 12000 and 12000 Series routers, Cisco enable service providers to handle the massive growth in video traffic and Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) applications.  

 

As part of the enhancement, Cisco doubled the reach of Cisco CRS-140-Gbps IPoDWDM to 2,000 kilometers (about 1,250 miles) without regeneration. The new module supports deployment in all types of geographical locations.

 

Secondly, Cisco extended the power of IPoDWDM technology to the network’s edge on the Cisco XR 12000 and 12000 Series Routers with a 10 Gigabit Ethernet shared port adapter that enables instant bandwidth up to 10 Gbps over 2,000 kilometers.

 

Additionally, Cisco reduced the provisioning on the Cisco ONS 15454 platform with its omni directional and colorless mesh re-configurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM (News - Alert)) to decrease truck rolls and thereby lower the requirements for power, space and cooling by more than 50 percent.

 

“Video in all flavors means service providers must grow network capacity to meet exponential demands,” said Michael Howard (News - Alert) principal analyst at Infonetics Research, in a statement. “Cisco has been in the forefront of anticipating fast-growing user demand for more bandwidth, and the increasing adoption of IPoDWDM is proof that its technology is also at the forefront.”