Cisco trumps the metro

This week at the Optical Fiber Communications Conference in Anaheim, Calif., Cisco Systems pulled the wraps off its new metro dense wave division multiplexing equipment. The new equipment is capable of delivering wavelengths to buildings.

The ONS 15200 is intended to allow service providers to maximize existing fiber cost effectively and quickly. According to Carl Russo, group vice president for Cisco’s optical networking group, the first generation systems currently available are cumbersome to install and turn up.

The new product will work in conjunction with the ONS 15454 and the ONS 15327 multi-service platform. Touch America Colorado, which is the communications subsidiary of Montana Power Company, is deploying the three products together to develop an end-to-end metropolitan fiber network in Denver, according to Russo. The provider plans to launch that network in the second quarter of this year.

Although no dollar amount was given for the sale, Russo said, “they are buying more than one of each.”

Using the new equipment, providers can add or drop wavelengths in single increments and support several network topologies. The units also have low power and space consumption, added Russo.

“One of the main goals is to give [providers] more flexibility,” Russo said.