Infinera deployment doubles XO's capacity

XO Communications is boosting the capacity on its long-haul fiber network by deploying optical switches from Infinera, the carrier announced today.

Though a press release issued by XO today said the deployment will double the capacity of its 18,000-route mile OC-192 transport network, a company spokesman said the deployment will more than double that capacity. XO currently maintains, on average, four wavelengths between any two cities on its network, the spokesman said. With the Infinera upgrade, the company expects to average 40 wavelengths between cities, he said.

In addition, the company expects the upgrade to allow it to bring its DS-1, OC-48, OC-192 and other services to new markets (including Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C.; Jacksonville, Tenn.; Cincinnati and Kansas City, Mo.) and to be more price competitive in its existing markets.

XO expects to complete the deployment, which is commencing now, in the third quarter of this year.

Five-year-old Infinera came to market in May 2004 with a unique approach to optical networking that uses integrated photonics to reduce the cost of optical-electrical conversions. Last year the vendor announced a wide-scale deployment from Level 3 Communications.

Separately today, XO also announced a plan to deploy Ethernet-over-copper equipment from Hatteras Networks, extending the reach of its Ethernet services footprint.

Also today, XO announced $66 million in five-year wholesale voice contracts from five competitive local exchange carriers: FONES4ALL, Habla Comunicaciones, i3 Networks, PCS1 and Telscape Communications.