Windstream Wholesale, a provider of advanced network solutions, and Infinera plan to collaborate on an initiative to transform Windstream’s optical network infrastructure.
The modernized network will enable Windstream to offer innovative new connectivity services optimized to support the hyper-scale capacity growth of its customers. As part of Windstream’s Intelligent Converged Optical Network (ICON) initiative, this collaboration will leverage pioneering optical networking technologies to provide a new level of control, visibility, and automation to Windstream’s optical network.
The next-generation optical infrastructure is based on a revolutionary technology pioneered by Infinera and Windstream, called Node-on-a-Blade. This technology represents the next evolution of ROADM-based solutions that will provide a more advanced and cost-effective approach to optical networking enabling deployment across a variety of network locations. With advanced capabilities such as a coherent optical channel monitor and a coherent probe, Windstream’s ICON will provide a new level of rich optical analytics and control.
This transformative approach to optical network architectures will enable the virtualization of private optical networks and facilitate the broad deployment of distributed computing resources, which will be critical to maximizing the power of 5G and cloud-based services.
In addition to enabling seamless scalability and dynamic network connectivity, ICON will put an unprecedented level of control in the hands of Windstream’s customers.
“Node-on-a-Blade technology will be a powerful tool in the evolution and transformation of optical networks,” said Ron Johnson, general manager, Optical Systems and Network Solutions Group at Infinera.
“Networks and service offerings need to transform to provide better support for hyper-scale customers as initiatives like distributed computing evolve,” said Art Nichols, vice president of architecture and technology at Windstream. “Key technologies such as Node-on-a-Blade and innovative partners like Infinera will be instrumental in enabling Windstream’s ICON vision to better support continued edge traffic growth and introduce a new class of hyper-scale optimized network services that will provide unique value to our customers.”
Infinera and Windstream representatives are available to meet and discuss the Node-on-a-Blade solution at The Optical Networking and Communication Conference & Exhibition, March 6-10, in San Diego.
