Bell Canada Trialing Nortel Networks OPTera Metro innovative D-WDM networking solution toenable on-demand provisioning of data bandwidth. Submitted by: Pleon Tuesday, 23 February 1999 SAN DIEGO -- After successful initial testing in late 1998, Bell Canada, Canada's largest telecommunications provider, plans to trial Nortel Networks'* [NYSE: NT/TSE: NTL] OPTera* Metro open D-WDM networking solution. This trial is part of Bell's plan to deploy a flexible platform that can readily respond to their customers' needs for more bandwidth and multi-protocol data connections across Canada. The scalability, survivability and simple point-and-click provisioning of OPTera Metro addresses the bandwidth explosion in metropolitan areas by speeding up the flow of network traffic locally and to the optical transport backbone. Successful completion of this trial is expected to result in network deployment within the next six months. "Our customers need not only a very fast access to the Internet but an easy and flexible way to connect all type of multimedia devices without service delays or the need for costly adaptations," said Bao Le, vice-president, Network and Technology, Bell Canada. "We are evaluating Nortel Networks' OPTera Metro system as the potential solution to eliminate the bandwidth bottleneck between our customers' LAN's (Local Area Networks) and high-speed optical networks while substantially reducing the operational and maintenance costs usually associated with providing multi-protocol multimedia services." With Nortel Networks' OPTera Metro networking solution, Bell Canada would be able to use up to 32 ring-protected wavelengths (different light colors) per fiber to connect their customers' traffic regardless of the protocol they are using (for example, SONET, ESCON, FDDI, Fast/Gigabit Ethernet, ATM and video). Data services can be networked in their native format through a single interface in the system with keyboard provisioning, reducing the cost and the set-up time traditionally involved with other network connection methods. Page 1 OPTera Metro optimizes the use of the current fiber infrastructure and provides flexible connectivity over a point-to-point or survivable ring-based network that ensures millisecond restoration in case of a fiber cut; a key requirement for the transmission of mission critical and time sensitive information such as financial transactions, voice and video. "OPTera Metro is compliant with global standards and provides survivability for SONET/SDH and native data protocols such as Gigabit Ethernet, ESCON and FDDI," said Brian McFadden, vice-president and general manager, OPTera Solutions, Nortel Networks. "The open and flexible architecture of OPTera enables carriers and enterprise customers to implement Forecast Tolerant Networks*-- taking the uncertainity out of network provisioning and turning time to market and new service delivery into a competitive advantage." "The acquisition of Cambrian Systems Corporation by Nortel Networks is complementary to the company's existing product lines and is quickly paying dividends for both Nortel Networks and its customers," said Mathew Steinberg, director of Optical Networking at RHK (Ryan Hankin Kent), a leading telecommunications consulting firm. "Metropolitan area networks (MAN) --the links between carrier switching centers, Internet service providers, and corporate networks-- will require investment from the carriers to better support the influx of data traffic entering the public network." Nortel Networks' OPTera portfolio that enables carriers and enterprises to build a new class of cost-effective, scalable and flexible networks is being demonstrated at the Optical Fiber Conference (OFC) in San Diego, February 22-26, 1999, (booth 1801), including OPTera Metro and OPTera LH (Long-Haul) solutions. Bell Canada, the largest Canadian telecommunications operating company, markets a full range of state-of-the-art products and services to more than seven million business and residence customers in Ontario and Quebec. Bell Canada's Internet web site is located at http://www.bell.ca. News releases, speeches and background information are in the Newsroom under the About Bell main menu. The e-mail address Page 2 is [email protected]. Nortel Networks delivers value to customers around the world through Unified Networks* solutions, spanning mission-critical telephony and IP-optimized networks. Customers include public and private enterprises and institutions; Internet service providers; local, long-distance, cellular and PCS communications companies, cable television carriers, and utilities. Nortel Networks' common shares are listed on the New York, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and London stock exchanges. Nortel Networks had 1998 revenues of US$17.6 billion and has approximately 75,000 employees worldwide. * Nortel Networks, the Nortel Networks Globemark, Unified Networks, Forecast Tolerant Networks, OPTera and How the world shares ideas are trademarks of Northern Telecom Limited. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. Page 3 Distributed via Press Release Wire (https://pressreleases.responsesource.com/) on behalf of Pleon Copyright © 1999-2021 ResponseSource, The Johnson Building, 79 Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 8AW, UK e: [email protected] t: 020 3426 4051 f: 0345 370 7776 w: https://www.responsesource.com.