Expanding upon an existing OEM relationship, Tellabs is making a strategic investment in White Rock Networks, a start-up based in Richardson, Texas. Under the agreement, Tellabs will market and sell a customized version of the White Rock VLX2020, which is a compact next-generation SONET add/drop multiplexer. Tellabs also adds to its portfolio a customized version of the White Rock VLX1010, a WDM platform that supports a seamless migration from coarse WDM to dense WDM. Financial terms were not disclosed. Tellabs and White Rock are working to develop interoperability between the customized White Rock products and the Tellabs 6400 transport switch, the Tellabs 6500 transport switch and the Tellabs 5500 digital cross- connect. In addition, the companies are jointly pursuing OSMINE certification as well as a combined management system.
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http://www.whiterocknetworks.com
- In December 2002, White Rock Networks closed $42 million in fourth-round venture funding for its next-generation optical transport systems for the local metro transport market. White Rock is focused on the Multi-service Provision Platform (MSPP) market as well next-generation SONET. White Rock has taken a unique approach to the MSPP problem by breaking it into pieces – modular, stackable product elements. White Rock also features a software-based control plane that transforms their modular “building-blocks” into a single network element. White Rock Networks has raised $144 million since its inception in 1999. The new funding was led by Oak Investment Partners, and included all of White Rock’s existing major investors: Oak Investment Partners, Mayfield Fund, Meritech Capital, Fremont Communications, Fremont Ventures, Investor AB (through its wholly owned subsidiary, Investor Growth Capital), Hook Partners, Gulf International Bank, and Pacesetter Capital Group. In additional, 3i, a leading international venture capital investment firm, joined the round.