It is to support “the first open, disaggregated architecture of its kind in the country”
EXATEL, a network operator in Poland, has chosen Ciena’s WaveLogic 5 Nana 400G ZR+ coherent pluggable transceivers to support its multi-vendor, software-defined networking (SDN) infrastructure. This is claimed to be the first open, disaggregated architecture of its kind in the country.
EXATEL runs a 23,800km fibre network. Its Polish hub links directly to others in London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Kiev, Stockholm, Prague, Milan, Vienna, Marseille, and Paris, which link onward to interconnection points further afield.
The network operator is deploying Ciena’s WL5n pluggables across router from multiple vendors across an open photonic line system. This open, converged IP and optical solution promises lower costs, consuming less power and space, and better operational efficiencies.
Power of pluggable
Ciena’s coherent optical technology, WL5n, is “pluggable”, meaning that it can optimise the interconnect speed by between 100G and 400G to suit the footprint and application, including for access, metro-regional connectivity and interconnecting data centres. WL5n’s support of interoperable 100G–400G modes means it consumes less than 20W per plug.
EXATEL’s customers include businesses, government agencies, financial institutions, enterprises, service providers and organisations. Ciena claims they will benefit “from more robust, higher-capacity, and ultra-low-power 400G connectivity”.
Disaggregated stack
Jacek Terpiłowski, Chief Technology Officer, EXATEL, “We chose Ciena’s WaveLogic 5 Nano because it offers highly reliable 400Gb/s connectivity and seamless interoperability with our disaggregated network stack that we built ourselves, allowing us to efficiently maximize the utilization of our fiber infrastructure, while simultaneously minimizing the need for expensive infrastructure upgrades.”
“Open network architectures make it possible for operators like EXATEL to accelerate the development of new services and applications for evolving customer needs. The selection of Ciena’s WaveLogic 5 Nano – our trusted WaveLogic technology in pluggable form – by EXATEL for its high-performing, multi-vendor environment is testament to our interoperability expertise,” added Virginie Hollebecque, Vice President and Leader of EMEA at Ciena.
