Telus to Deploy Nortel Next-generation Optical Equipment as Part of National Network Build

Canadian telecommunications provider Telus has selected N/A' (Brampton, ON) next-generation Optical Internet and high-speed optical switch interface equipment for its national network build in an agreement estimated at U.S.$47 million. Deployment of equipment began in 1999 including completion of the link to GTE Corp.'s U.S. network via Seattle. The cross-Canada portion of the Telus network is slated for completion by June 2000.

The high-capacity optical network connects Telus' Vancouver-Seattle network with GTE's network span to Detroit, and will link to Toronto and Montreal. The backbone network will be based on Nortel Networks' OPTera LH backbone networking equipment using the OPTera Connect DX optical cross-connect at interconnection points. The OPTera LH system currently provides per-fiber capacity up to 320 billion bits per second, which is enough to carry 15 million 56 Kbps Internet modem connections simultaneously on a single fiber. The network will be managed using Nortel Networks' Preside Integrated Network Management solution.

Nortel Networks DMS Spectrum Peripheral Module (SPM), a key element of Nortel Networks' Succession Network next-generation architecture, will be deployed in British Columbia and Alberta. This will enable Telus to transfer voice and data traffic directly to the high-capacity optical network for transport across the country, while reducing cost of switching office ownership and providing enhanced reliability.

Network capacity will be scalable using Dense-Wavelength Division Multiplexing (D-WDM), a technology which maximizes traffic-carrying ability by splitting the light into multiple channels. Using Nortel Networks' Preside platform, Telus will be able to centrally manage their international network span and remotely turn up services as needed. Preside Integrated Network Management is used extensively throughout the world to manage more than 85,000 network elements in more than 300 networks.

Edited by Kristin Keiser