Raises ceiling for high-availability network services while using 80% less power

Lightpath, an all-fiber, infrastructure-based connectivity provider that is revolutionizing how organizations connect to their digital destinations, and Ciena (NYSE: CIEN), a global leader in networking systems, services, and software, recently deployed the industry’s first known 400 Gb/s protected optical circuit utilizing power-efficient and high-performance pluggable technologies. The achievement increases the maximum bandwidth levels that customers can utilize to deploy persistent, mission-critical services while utilizing 80% less electricity.

Lightpath’s challenge for a hyperscale customer was to provide a 400 Gb/s geographically diverse and protected circuit over a distance of approximately 200 miles, including traversing numerous water crossings, and utilizing an average of 8 POPs (points-of-presence) per side of the circuit, all while being able to maintain a very aggressive failover time. Lightpath and Ciena jointly designed the end-to-end solution utilizing Lightpath’s dense fiber plant combined with Ciena’s 6500 packet optical platform powered by high-performance WaveLogic 5 Nano coherent pluggable optics at the end points running over Ciena’s Reconfigurable Line System (RLS) flexible photonic layer along the routes.

Key Facts:

  • Lightpath designed the optimal solution fiber routes that would utilize optical layer protection, which reduced customer circuit handoffs in half while still satisfying the customer requirement of less than 50ms switch times.
  • Lightpath custom designed the two approximately 200-mile wavelength routes utilizing a combination of newly constructed and existing fiber routes. Lightpath worked with Ciena engineers to identify the equipment and locations that would be needed to maintain signal integrity, traverse necessary POPs along the routes and maintain the protection services within the stringent failover time specification.
  • With support for both standard interoperable and extended reach modes, Ciena’s WaveLogic 5 Nano solution delivers the highest 400G pluggable performance in the industry leveraging 70GBaud symbol rate and requires 50% less physical space compared to standard transponder deployments.

Executive Comments:

  • “This protected 400G solution, in support of a hyperscale customer, exemplifies Lightpath’s innovative and problem-solving approach to meet and exceed our customer’s network requirements. Together with Ciena, we have pushed the boundaries of high availability bandwidth solutions, while also utilizing power and space friendly technologies.”

    - Chris Morley, CEO, Lightpath

  • “As Lightpath continues to expand its footprint, it needs a network that can scale and adapt to handle unpredictable bandwidth demands. Ciena’s WaveLogic coherent optical innovations allow Lightpath to increase capacity while achieving greater power efficiencies and reliability."

    - Kevin Sheehan, CTO of the Americas, Ciena

Supporting Resources:

About Lightpath
Lightpath is revolutionizing how customers connect to their digital destinations by combining our next-generation network with our next-generation customer service. Lightpath’s advanced fiber-optic network offers a comprehensive portfolio of custom-engineered connectivity solutions with unparalleled performance, reliability, and security. Our consultative customer service means we work with you to design, deliver, and support the solution for your unique needs, faster and more easily than ever before. For over 30 years, thousands of enterprises, governments, and educators have trusted Lightpath to power their organization’s innovation. Lightpath is jointly owned by Altice USA (NYSE: ATUS) and Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners.

Follow Lightpath on LinkedIn and subscribe on YouTube. For more information, please visit lightpathfiber.com.

About Ciena
Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) is a global leader in networking systems, services, and software. We build the most adaptive networks in the industry, enabling customers to anticipate and meet ever-increasing digital demands. For three-plus decades, Ciena has brought our humanity to our relentless pursuit of innovation. Prioritizing collaborative relationships with our customers, partners, and communities, we create flexible, open, and sustainable networks that better serve all users—today and into the future. For updates on Ciena, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, the Ciena Insights blog, or visit www.ciena.com.

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