Ciena adds an OADM

Anaheim, Calif.--Simply transporting wavelengths isn’t good enough, so Ciena has added what it’s calling the “WavelengthDirector” optical add/drop multiplexer to its portfolio. The WaveDirector is intended to provide flexibility through software provisioning and add and drop wavelengths with as low as single channel granularity.

The big push with the product is to convince providers of its ability to lower opex through the remote network configuration capabilities. The WavelengthDirector works in conjunction with Ciena’s flagship product, the CoreDirector.

“We took the concepts of the CoreDirector and applied them [to the WavelengthDirector],” said Jim Westdrop, director of transport at Ciena. The device adds opex savings by processing only the wavelengths necessary at a particular site, Westdrop said. It is also part of Ciena’s automation program targeted at providing distributed intelligence for service provider networks.

But considering the embedded infrastructure and the current lack of spending, near-term traction for the product could be questionable. “This will typically go into next-generation networks,” Westdrop said. “I don’t see [providers] tearing up networks to add this stuff. It’s really more of a play for new networks,” he said.