Nortel wins another SBC contract

Either Nortel Networks is cutting good deals on optical equipment or the company is gaining back some momentum. Today Nortel revealed that SBC Communications has extended its existing contract with the vendor to include Nortel’s OPTera 5100 multiservice platform.

SBC will be deploying the 5100’s throughout its 13-state territory to enable storage and Gigabit Ethernet services. SBC will transition existing and new services to the Nortel platforms as they become more wavelength enabled, according to Jim Dondero, director of optical Ethernet solutions for Nortel.

“They had a solution in place, but they wanted something with more flexibility,” Dondero said. “And this demonstrates how they are using a shared infrastructure tech to offer managed wave services,” Dondero said.

Although SBC has yet to started deploying the equipment, the provider plans to offer the services to small and medium size business customers.

SBC is already using Nortel’s OPTera 5200 platform for DWDM. That deal was inked between the companies last October. SBC also uses Nortel’s Sonet equipment in its network.

Just last week, Nortel announced a deal with Cox Communications for its optical Ethernet equipment. (http://telephonyonline.com/ar/telecom_nortel_wins_cox/index.htm). As part of that deal Cox is deploying Nortel’s OPTera 3500 platform.