Earthlink Telecommunications, which bills itself as the largest ISP in Iraq, has deployed Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) 400G Digital Coherent Optics (DCO) modules in its national long-haul network. The deployment, which also includes software elements, enables IP and optical layer convergence, additional programmability and automation, as well as a capacity upgrade, according to Cisco.
The network upgrade leverages Earthlink’s fielded Flex Spectrum CDC-based DWDM network elements and includes the Cisco NCS 2006 with 1.2-Tbps muxponders using the 400G optics. The 400G DCO optical transceivers also will be used in the ISP’s Cisco ASR9000 routers in its aggregation networks connected to NCS 5508 core routers.
Beyond the physical layer, Earthlink will leverage Cisco Spectrum Switched Optical Networks (SSON) restoration capabilities to enable self-healing network operation. The ISP will be able to lower the bit-rate if needed in ultra-long-haul restoration scenarios, a first for the region, Cisco asserts. Meanwhile, Cisco’s System Virtualization and Orchestration (SVO) platform and Evolved Programmable Network Manager (EPNM) also is now part of Earthlink’s repertoire. The EPNM provides centralized control and network management.
Cisco’s Customer Experience team is handling the network migration and configuration duties, as well as the deployment of the new components.
“We have been facing increasing traffic volume, now doubling every two years. With Cisco we have been able to expand capacity at the core, aggregation, and access areas of our network.” said Sarmad Ahmed, CEO of Earthlink. “With this network upgrade we can now meet more capacity at both the IP and optical layers.”
“We are thrilled to be helping Earthlink take the first step toward a Routed Optical Network, expanding to 400G DCO optics and continuing IP and Optical convergence with automation and virtualization capabilities,” said Reem Asaad, vice president, Middle East, and Africa, at Cisco. “Moving forward, the 400G technology with Cisco routers and Cisco DCO optics will provide better investment protection, wavelength utilization, and scalability Earthlink’s long-haul national network.”
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