Ciena, Sonus complete interop testing

Sonus Networks and Ciena will announce this week that they have completed interoperability testing between Sonus’ Insignus softswitch and Ciena’s CN1000 broadband loop carrier platform. As a result, Ciena will be given "Powered" status within Sonus’ Open Services Partner Alliance.

Completion of the testing gives Sonus customers another option on a growing list of access vendors that have aligned with the company. Copper Mountain Networks, Integral Access and Occam Networks have also achieved the same status. It also reinforces Sonus’ philosophy that partnering and providing interoperability with multiple vendors is preferred over outright acquisition.

"Our whole OSPA program is centered around having multiple partners," said Laurie Coppola, strategic alliance manager for Sonus. "There are so many pieces of the network that you can’t possibly acquire all of them."

Ciena’s broadband group, which was acquired in whole as Catena Network, also has subscribed to the partner theory. In the cable market, for instance, the company has tested and certified that its equipment will interoperate with Syndeo’s call management servers as well as Terayon’s cable modem termination system. The agreement with Sonus, however, represents the first interoperability with a softswitch vendor. Both companies also are quick to point out that neither side is linked via any kind of marketing or sales alliance.

Gary Bolton, vice president of product marketing for Ciena’s broadband group, said the biggest advantage of partnering is that it allows carriers to pick and choose network elements.

"There are companies that are trying to do everything themselves, and you get caught in this trap where maybe their softswitch is best in class but the access platform isn’t so great," he said. --Vince Vittore