Sphera to connect networks to Equinix centers

(Telephony) Optical metro area network [MAN] provider Sphera Optical Networks is linking its dense wave division multiplexing [DWDM] networks into Equinix's nationwide network of Internet Business Exchange [IBX] centers.

Sphera will market network services to the aggregation of enterprises and Internet companies participating in Equinix's open marketplace concept along with other MAN players, ISPs/MSPs and content players.

"There are quite a few names in the MAN that are just showing up at our door," said Jay Adelson, Equinix's CTO and co-founded. "Sphera is just one of quite a number of players who are now offering a laundry list of various different optical services to customers in the IBXs."

For example, Sigma Networks and Equinix last week announced a deal that made Sigma's multiservice, fiber-optic broadband services available nationwide in Equinix centers.

Equinix "provides an aggregation point of consumers of optical services," Adelson said.

"In order for our ecosystem to be really fleshed out, we have created this menu of metro area networking companies to compete with each other," said Adelson. "These are different competing companies in the same shopping mall."

Adelson emphasized the competing companies all get equal treatment from Equinix, including equal access to facilities and customers.

"We have also had a model where we operate a very neutral and open marketplace that is a level playing field, where Sphera can come and lay down their carpet and start selling their goods and compete with companies like Sigma," he said. "They compete for price, for quality, and many of our customers are large enough consumers … that many hook up to multiple [providers]."