CIENA introduced the CNX-100 Modular Broadband Loop Carrier (BLC), which provides 96 configurable subscriber ports in a single low-profile shelf. The BLC can serve as a DSL overlay solution or an integrated POTS+DSL solution. The CNX-100 can grow in 4-port increments, and service cards can be provisioned based on the service requirements at each site. A variety of copper and fiber network interfaces support connection to any transport network, and the CNX-100 supports multiple subtending nodes for greater scale and transport efficiency. The platform is managed by the same element management system) as the company’s existing CNX-5 Broadband DSL System. The platform is expected to be generally available in Q3 2004. http://www.ciena.com
- Earlier this year, Ciena acquired Catena Networks, a privately-held supplier of broadband access equipment, for approximately $486.7 million in stock (77.5 million shares of CIEN). Catena Networks has deployed more than 5,500 integrated broadband access solutions for RBOCs, IOCs and CLECs. Catena’s major customer include BellSouth and two other RBOCs.