Time Warner selects Scientific-Atlanta/Tropic Networks managed R-OADM platform to simplify and accelerate service provisioning

Fiber Optics Weekly Update, May 13, 2005

Scientific-Atlanta Inc. and Tropic Networks announced that they will provide Time Warner Cable's Portland, Maine, division with reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (R-OADM) transport nodes for its core DWDM network and related support services. This leading technology will enable Time Warner Portland to quickly and remotely modify network topology to optimize bandwidth use and reduce time to service in order to enhance customer satisfaction. Time Warner Cable expects to roll out its first fully managed and fully reconfigurable network in Portland, Maine, by the second quarter 2005.

"Time Warner continues to see new growth and service opportunities in our core network," said Chris Graviss, Vice President of Engineering, Time Warner Cable, Portland Division. "By deploying a fully managed R-OADM network, we can more efficiently address the growing demand for bandwidth and new services and at the same time deliver maximum service choice and quality to our customers."

Time Warner Cable Portland has agreed to purchase the WT-24000(TM) optical transport platform, TROPX software suite, and Wavelength Tracker(TM) advanced optical layer management technology. The managed R-OADM solution will provide Time Warner with dual homing master head-end protection for a protected VOD network designed to deliver uninterrupted service to its customers. In addition, the new architecture will support Time Warner's existing commercial services. The WT-24000's flexible architecture further provides Time Warner with the ability to create a fully converged network infrastructure, as new services can be deployed onto this platform as they become available.

"Managed R-OADM network infrastructure based on any-wavelength-to-anywhere flexibility and advanced wavelength management will simplify service provisioning for Time Warner Portland to help provide a variety of operational and cost benefits," said Bart Spriester, director and general manager for transport networks, Transmission Network Systems at Scientific-Atlanta. "The WT-24000 platform represents an important extension of our current Digital Transport offerings designed to help optimize the use of available bandwidth."

"This state-of-the-art platform from Scientific-Atlanta and Tropic Networks can help Time Warner Cable Portland leverage its existing infrastructure to extract more value and performance from its network," said Kevin Rankin, CEO, Tropic Networks Inc. This deployment is a major milestone for us as it validates our strategic relationship, our value proposition and our vision. It proves that the market is ready to deploy best-in-breed managed R-OADM solutions to reduce network complexity and control costs."

The WT-24000 optical transport platform combines leading-edge technology with advanced hardware and software design.

- Wavelength Tracker--this unique solution applies an optical signature to each wavelength, affording end-to-end optical visibility.

- "Transponder-Less" Operation--fully monitored support for optical carriers originated by external networking equipment.

- R-OADM Technology--flexible Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer solution enables remote wavelength allocation changes.