Unitymedia KabelBW upgrades backbone network

Unitymedia KabelBW is deploying Ciena’s 100G coherent optical transport platform to upgrade its backbone network. This will allow Unitymedia KabelBW to reduce operating costs and latency and also increase its network elasticity. In addition, Ciena’s platform can be easily upgraded to 400G to support customer demand for new over-the-top (OTT) services such as video streaming.

Unitymedia KabelBW offers residential and business customers in North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse and Baden-Württemberg TV, telephony and broadband Internet with up to 150 Mbit/s at present. “Demand among residential customers is growing for broadband-intensive entertainment services such as music and video streaming, downloading multimedia content or online video games,” explains Dr. Michael Langer, Director Network Engineering at Unitymedia KabelBW. “With Ciena’s platform we are tailoring our network to the needs of our customers. We have a flexible and scalable architecture, which we can adapt dynamically if customer requirements change.”

Future-proof network architecture
Unitymedia KabelBW is deploying the 6500 Packet-Optical Platform, part of Ciena’s OPnnetwork architecture. The platform, equipped with third generation WaveLogic Coherent Optical Processors, leverages an agile ROADM (Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer) optical layer, which enables fast and efficient 100G connections between central locations. It also allows Unitymedia KabelBW to offer Ethernet business, mobile backhaul and transport services for mobile operators. The packet network functions of Ciena’s 6500 are designed so that Unitymedia KabelBW can simply scale its packet services.

“It is important for cable operators such as Unitymedia KabelBW to extend their own infrastructure to meet growing demands. This is made possible by our converged Packet Optical Platform,” explains Eugen Gebhard, Regional Director, Germany & Pan-European Carrier Accounts at Ciena. “It also enables higher data speeds and new applications so that customer expectations can also be met in the future.”

Unitymedia KabelBW will also use Ciena’s management solution for simplified low-touch service activation, service visualization and network monitoring. This will enable Unitymedia KabelBW to simplify processes with seamless end-to-end service implementation and monitor all components and services from its central Network Operations Center. Unitymedia KabelBW will also use a number of services from Ciena’s Specialist Services Portfolio, such as installation, operation and testing.