Providing greater visibility, control and automation

Ciena® Corporation has unveiled WaveLogic Photonics, new line intelligence capabilities that significantly improve visibility, control and programmability of packet optical networks. Comprised of Ciena’s leading coherent optics, flexible optical line elements and embedded and discrete software tools, WaveLogic Photonics gives service providers the ability to leverage software programmability at greater scale to transform their network from a fixed asset that provides commodity connectivity to one that is automated for faster service responsiveness and differentiation.

Powering network transformation through convergence, WaveLogic Photonics combines with adjustable packet and OTN traffic management capabilities to enable a programmable, future-proof service platform. This makes the network more dynamic and responsive to changing demands and applications needs.

WaveLogic Photonics accelerates service responsiveness while reducing the need for upfront forecasting and traffic capacity planning. The capabilities include flexible line elements such as programmable line amplifiers, Smart Raman and customizable Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADMs) configurations – from metro to core.

The next step in Ciena’s OPn architecture evolution, WaveLogic Photonics builds upon the intelligence already found in Ciena’s WaveLogic coherent optics across the entire optical line system. Product enhancements include:
o Expanded control plane capabilities – Ciena’s field-proven OneConnect Intelligent Control Plane, ranked number one in Infonetics’ latest Optical Equipment Vendor Leadership Survey, now includes additional distributed intelligence across the photonic and OTN layers. This ensures that operators can offer a broad selection of service level guarantees and new service offerings.
o Smart Raman – Eliminating time consuming manual configuration steps as well as the potential damage to equipment and fiber that accompanies traditional Raman deployments, Ciena’s Smart Raman provides simple and automatic turn-up by autonomously testing and ensuring proper fiber conditions are met prior to self-activation. The ability to plug and play Raman into the network helps service providers optimize span and system designs and minimize the use of costly regenerators.
o PinPoint™ – Ciena’s advanced fiber analytic software leverages Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) capabilities that are now integrated directly into the network elements to create a complete fiber loss profile – analogous to a CT scan of the network. This allows network operators to precisely localize and deal with potential trouble spots, reducing the risk of outages and accelerating repair times from days to hours. It creates the opportunity for proactive maintenance to improve network characteristics and also keeps track of historical information so administrators can remotely validate that installation, maintenance and repairs have been properly executed, which ensures the fiber plant is always conditioned for optimal system performance.