Network specialist Ciena has delivered its Packet-Optical Transport technology to XO Communications (News - Alert), a nationwide provider of advanced communications, managed network and IT infrastructure services for business, large enterprise and wholesale customers.

Ciena’s technology will help provide high-speed, high-capacity next-generation optical transport and business Ethernet services to enterprise and wholesale service provider customers in XO’s metropolitan and regional networks, nationwide.

“Our 6500 Packet Optical Platform and WaveLogic coherent optical technology, part of our OPn programmable network architecture, provides XO Communications with significant bandwidth scalability, reliability and intelligence —critical building blocks for delivering competitive network services that ensure long-term customer satisfaction,” said Francois Locoh-Donou, senior vice president, Global Products Group at Ciena.

This alliance will enable XO to address its enterprise customers’ demand for bandwidth capacity to deliver business critical Ethernet, storage and managed services applications with low latency.

In addition, it will also be able to offer 100G managed wavelength services to XO’s large enterprise and wholesale service provider customers.

As part of the contract, Ciena is also providing its OneControl Unified Management System and a range of professional services to XO.

“Ciena’s coherent optical technology with integrated OTN switching gives us the ability to cost-effectively deliver a wide range of custom services and applications to our varied customer base with speed, flexibility and assurance, as well as the ability to go after new markets,” said Randy Nicklas, senior vice president and CTO at XO Communications.

XO Communications is already offering services on its newly-enhanced network in New York City and intends to upgrade high-growth regions in the coming months.

XO was in news last month when it partnered with Nokia Siemens (News - Alert) Networks optical system to deploy the XO long haul network. This network can simultaneously transmit up to 96 wavelengths of light.

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