Fujitsu prepares for WorldCom contract

Fujitsu plans to make its first big splash in the long-haul optic space next year, when WorldCom is expected to break the terabit barrier in its network by upgrading to Fujitsu’s Flashwave OADX solution.

A DWDM system that is designed to deliver 1.76 terabits of information over 176 channels, the Flashwave OADX is being tested by WorldCom as part of its “Terabit Challenge” on a 220-mile network that extends from outside Baltimore, Md., to a city outside Newark, N.J. WorldCom invited all vendors to participate in the challenge by meeting its specification for increasing capacity on its existing fiber lines, but only Fujitsu and another unnamed vendor reached the testing stage, according to a WorldCom spokeswoman.

“It was basically an open challenge, and these are the only two that met the challenge,” the spokeswoman said.

WorldCom plans to begin moving to terabit solutions in its networks before the end of the year, the spokeswoman said. By reaching this stage of the challenge, Fujitsu is almost assured of a contract with the interexchange carrier.

“While a decision has not been made, it would be unusual for us to only go with one vendor,” the WorldCom spokeswoman said.

A longtime stalwart in the optic space for local exchange carriers, a contract with WorldCom would be a coup for Fujitsu, which committed to offering long-haul equipment just two years ago.

“This represents a … really big step for us,” said Ron Martin, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Fujitsu Network Communications.

The Flashwave OADX is the next generation of the architecture used in Fujitsu’s Flashwave 320G solution, which delivers 320 GB of information per second. The latest solution works will all single-mode fiber types, requires less regeneration equipment, and offers a great deal of scalability and flexibility, according to Ray Moyer, Fujitsu Network Communications senior marketing manager for optical products.