Lucent Technologies Supplies Optical Networking Systems to Increase Capacity of KDDI's Next Generation Network in Japan - Brief Article

Lucent Technologies announced that it has signed a contract with KDDI to supply Lucent's high-capacity optical network transmission technology for KDDI's nationwide backbone network connecting Hokkaido to Okinawa.
Established by the merger of DDI, KD, and IDO on October 1, 2000, KDDI is one of Japan's largest telecommunications carriers. Lucent's optical networking systems will enable this new major carrier to consolidate the three companies' existing networks, enhance the capabilities of its nationwide backbone network, and offer high-speed metropolitan network services.
"We are facing a dramatic increase in our customers' demands for fast, efficient, and cost-effective transport on our IT network, and we've chosen Lucent's high-capacity optical network transmission technology to increase our existing core network's capabilities," said Kaoru Tachibana, managing director of KDDI. "Japan is one of the fastest growing IT markets in the world, and Lucent's experience arid proven leadership in optical networking will enable us to further enhance our position in this market, especially as we enter the metropolitan networking market."
Under the agreement, Lucent will provide KDDI with its WaveStar ADM 16/1 and its accompanying regenerator unit -- WaveStar R16. These systems will be added to the existing WaveStar ADM 16/1 systems already deployed in KDDI's network.
Lucent's WaveStar ADM 16/1 is an optical multiplexer that enables carriers to use high-speed synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) technology to set up optical network rings. The system does this by combining multiple low-speed electrical and optical inputs into a single 2.5 Gbps signal. That's the equivalent of transmitting a half million one-page e-mails each second. A central component of Lucent's WaveStar optical networking product family, the WaveStar ADM 16/1 includes a modular, pay-as-you-grow architecture that service providers can use for interoffice, access, or regional applications.
"Deploying the most reliable, flexible, and cost-effective network transmission equipment in the backbone network is critical for a carrier's success in the competitive market," said Eiichi Shimizu, chairman of Lucent Technologies Japan. "We are very pleased that KDDI has selected our optical solutions again. Over the past six years, we've worked with DDI and KDD, and we understand each other very well. We look forward to continuing to support major carriers such as KDDI by providing most advanced Bell Labs-developed optical solutions as they rapidly enlarge their next-generation networks for their business expansion.