Sycamore’s Gig E shuffle

ATLANTA--

Even though many of the so-called “Ethernet LECS” or ELECs are struggling, equipment vendors are still betting the technology will end up with a strong foothold from other providers. This week Sycamore Networks revealed that it has added a 4-port gigabit Ethernet service module to slide into the SN 3000 intelligent optical switch. The idea behind the module is to enable providers to offer Gig-E services over their existing Sonet networks.

Sycamore is using Virtual Concatenation with the switch and module, which frees up 50% of the stranded bandwidth to improve efficiency, according to Bonnie Sitsis, director of product marketing at Sycamore. “It allows you to break a big pipe up into little ones, which gives the provider a lot more efficiency and flexibility,” Sitsis said.

Using the module, providers can offer mixed protection schemes for the Gig-E services on a per port, per circuit basis. That way providers are able to sell full protection services at a portion of the overall service rate, according to Sitsis. Providers may also offer partial protection services.

In conjunction of the module release, Sycamore also announced a new interoperability program to hasten Gig-E service delivery. Appian Communications, Atrica, Extreme Networks, Riverstone Networks and Unisphere Networks are participating in the program.

The Yankee Group expects retail metro Ethernet services to grow from $548.22 million to $4.1 billion in 2006.