Verizon Conducts Industry's First Commercial Network Trial of Dynamic Optical Links Across Multiple Suppliers

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Verizon has completed the industry's first multisupplier trial of optical network management technology, demonstrating near real-time circuit provisioning across the Verizon Business commercial network.

This successful trial of control plane technology carried test traffic through optical circuits on Verizon Business' core network from Chicago to Atlanta, traversing the optical network using the Ciena CoreDirector®, the Fujitsu FLASHWAVE® 4500 MSPP and Tellabs® 7100 Optical Transport System.

"Control plane technology is a critical next step in the evolution of optical technology because it supports the immediacy of service delivery our customers require as they respond to changing business demands," said Mark Wegleitner, senior vice president of technology for Verizon. "Multisupplier interoperability for this emerging capability is critical to Verizon's strategy of building a network as flexible and diverse as possible."

Control plane technology allows electronic devices within optical networks to easily communicate with each other, simplifying operations and allowing for near real-time provisioning of specified new circuits.

Verizon demonstrated integration of the optical control plane with Verizon Business' circuit-provisioning operations support system for dynamic flow-through of provisioning orders, resulting in shortened time from circuit order to circuit activation. 

"The success of this field trial is an important milestone for our customers as we progress toward an automated optical transport network capable of delivering true rapid response networking," said Joe Cook, vice president of global network planning and engineering for Verizon Business. "Automated provisioning in a dynamic circuit environment means quick response to our customers' business needs."

Verizon's Network and Technology Group has participated in lab demonstrations of optical control plane technology as standardized by the ITU and the Optical Interoperability Forum (OIF), but this field trial marks the first multisupplier implementation across a commercial network. For this trial, multiple suppliers collaborated with Verizon engineers to define interoperability based on industry standards. Where gaps were found in the existing standards, the teams jointly contributed to filling those gaps.

To increase collaboration with suppliers, Verizon established in 2003 its own interoperability lab, the Verizon Interoperability Forum.

"Seeing this technology move from lab to field validates the importance of the Verizon Interoperability Forum in focusing the supplier community on critical issues facing Verizon and other carriers," said Stu Elby, vice president of network architecture for Verizon's network and technology team. "By putting our customers first, Verizon has once again demonstrated its leadership and innovation in global optical networks."

About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 69 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 228,600 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of $93.5 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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