ODSI announces successful interoperability testing

Multi-vendor interoperability testing event supported by Agilent Technologies demonstrates "optical dial tone" with ODSI's open industry standards-based protocol

SAN JOSE, CA, Dec 19, 2000

The Optical Domain Service Interconnect (ODSI) coalition today announced the successful completion of the first multi-vendor interoperability testing of the ODSI specification. With nine global telecommunications carriers, including CSELT, GTS and Telenor present as observers, participants Alcatel, quipe Communications, Redback Networks, Sycamore Networks, and Tenor Networks demonstrated successful multi-vendor implementation of ODSI's standards-based protocol specification between various IP and optical devices.

Interoperability testing was conducted over a four-day period at Valiant Networks' facilities in San Jose, California utilizing Agilent Technologies' Optical Control Plane Analysis Software. Both Agilent and Valiant provided technical support and oversight for the event, working closely with engineering staff from the participating companies.

The means by which electrically-based network devices such as IP routers, ATM switches and metro transport devices interoperate with a dynamic optical core has become critical to the evolution of service provider backbone architectures. For service providers to realize the benefits and features of today's technology innovations, the optical layer must effectively interwork with these other network devices.

"Over the course of the event, we were able to test and validate successful, ODSI protocol-based communication and functionality, demonstrating interoperability between the vendor equipment involved in the event," said Stewart Day, product manager for Agilent's Optical Switching and Routing Test Solutions group.

The ODSI specification is the industry's first electrical-optical interface protocol that enables service providers to leverage native intelligence at both the IP and optical layers of the public network. Developed in just 11 months from concept to initial multi-vendor interoperability, the ODSI specification represents the culmination of the collaborative efforts of over 100 industry participants and continues to accelerate the development of the intelligent optical network by effectively bridging the electro-optical boundary in today's global telecommunications networks.

The first implementable specification of its kind, ODSI has executed on its plan and is the first standards coalition to test interoperability between optical and electrical devices. The coalition has created and written code for a specification that brings cooperation between access, edge and core devices, and also supports signaling for legacy third-party devices.

As originally announced, the goal of the ODSI coalition is to hand off its work at the end of the year to the industry's established standard setting bodies such as the OIF, IETF, ITU and T1/X1. Over the past several months, the architects of the ODSI specification have spent time with each of these groups and looks forward to submitting the test results following the next meeting. The next ODSI coalition meeting will be held on January 23, 2001 in Orlando, Florida.

About ODSI

Optical Domain Service Interconnect (ODSI) is an open, industry-wide initiative spearheaded by Sycamore Networks in cooperation with a diverse group of service providers and networking vendors. ODSI represents a coalition of networking professionals with a common interest in selecting, applying and promoting the open interfaces and signaling protocols that will allow higher-layer service networks to effectively interoperate with an evolving and dynamic optical network core. Recently named "One of the Ten Hottest Technologies" by Telecommunications Magazine, the ODSI coalition represents a collaborative effort to open the interface to the next-generation optical network and help drive innovation in service creation and delivery.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a diversified technology company with approximately 47,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries. Agilent is a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components. In fiscal year 2000, Agilent had net revenue of $10.8 billion. The company serves markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare. Information about Agilent Technologies can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com.

About Alcatel

Alcatel is the only vendor to master all optical network elements, from optical components, optical fibers and DWDM systems to core routers and network intelligence, and from terrestrial to submarine solutions. Alcatel builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data networking solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With 120,000 employees and sales of EURO 23 billion in 1999, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.

About quipe Communications

quipe Communications Corporation is focused on delivering products and solutions to carriers and service providers to enable new services and higher capacity networks to be deployed. The company's next generation multilayer services platform provides an Optical On-Ramp to the exploding optical network core that allows service providers to leverage their existing edge infrastructure and deploy revenue generating services. Contact quipe at info@equipecom.com or www.equipecom.com.

About Redback Networks, Inc.

Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Redback Networks Inc., is a leading provider of advanced networking solutions that enable carriers, cable operators, and service providers to rapidly deploy broadband access and services. The market-leading Redback SMST subscriber management systems, connect and manage large numbers of subscribers using any of the major broadband access technologies such as Digital Subscriber Line, cable, and wireless. To deliver integrated transport solutions for metropolitan optical networks, the Redback SmartEdgeT multi-service optical platforms leverage powerful advances in application-specific integrated circuit, IP, and optical technology. The Redback Enterprise Service PointT system is designed specifically to help service providers capture high-margin revenue from advanced IP services. The Redback service management family of products allows service providers to easily publish, activate and manage IP services and allows their customers to subscribe to these services on demand. With this product portfolio, Redback Networks is the first equipment supplier focused exclusively on developing integrated solutions for the New Access Network.

About Sycamore Networks

Sycamore Networks develops and markets intelligent optical networking products that transport voice and data traffic over wavelengths of light. The Company combines significant experience in data networking with expertise in optics to develop intelligent optical networking solutions for network service providers. Sycamore's products are based on a common software foundation, enabling concentration on the delivery of services and end-to-end optical networking. Sycamore's products and product plans include optical transport, access and switching systems and end-to-end optical network management solutions. Contact Sycamore Networks at www.sycamorenet.com.

About Tenor Networks

Tenor Networks, Inc., is a leading supplier of core service switching systems that offer service providers improved business performance and a sustainable competitive advantage. Tenor's Optical Service Switching platform, comprised of its TN250G Optical Service Switch and TEMPo Element Management Platform, creates a powerful system that enables service providers to migrate from selling commodity services to an enhanced service model. Tenor's TN250G is a fully deterministic, multi-service packet switch for the network core that is purpose built to meet the specific mission of migrating services to an optically powered, converged network. Tenor was recently named one of the 100 hottest private companies by UPSIDE Magazine and was also awarded "Hot Start-Up 2000" by Telecommunications Magazine. The company is a founding member of Optical Domain Service Interconnect (ODSI) and the MPLS Forum. For more information about Tenor Networks, please visit the website at www.tenornetworks.com.

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