Parama Networks announces centralized architecture to simplify add/drop multiplexer design and extend SONET/SDH functionality for efficient transport of data services

Fiber Optics Weekly Update, Sept 3, 2004

Parama Networks announced a new centralized architecture for SONET/SDH Add/Drop Multiplexers. In conjunction with Parama's ADM-on-a-Chip (AoC) family, the simplified architecture will enable network equipment manufacturers to centralize the framing, cross-connect, and overhead processing functions of SONET and SDH. This allows vendors to streamline their product architectures and reduce their parts count, resulting in lower-cost and higher-performance network elements.

While fully compliant with SONET/SDH standards, the new AoC-based architecture extends that functionality to enable the transition to next-generation transport systems for efficient transport of data services and improved network management features. In fact, the centralized architecture uniquely enables 50ms restoration in mesh networks, per-service protection schemes, and transparent transport services. It also allows vendors to tap the bandwidth in the "overhead" channels for signaling and control purposes throughout the network.

With the centralized architecture and Parama's landmark "ADM-on-a-Chip," manufacturers of SONET and SDH equipment can create extremely cost-effective designs that bring new levels of flexibility, features, and performance to their service provider customers.

Centralized architecture results in:

- Lower overall parts costs and reduced development time, leading to improved product margins and faster time-to-market;

- Transparent transport services and enhanced per-service protection schemes;

- Efficient mesh networks with guaranteed restoration time of less than 50ms;

- Simplified control plane implementations such as GMPLS, for service provisioning and other tasks;

- Faster product cycles and easier product upgrades.

"Our centralized architecture will help our customers meet the evolving needs of SONET and SDH networks as they carry more and more data traffic," said Hemant Bheda, CEO of Parama Networks. "A centralized architecture is a great way to reduce cost and extend equipment capabilities. Services enabled through centralized, flexible, overhead access include true transparent transport, multiple protection domains on a single span, and enhanced inter-node communications channels. Flexible overhead access can also help to diminish the interoperability problems that plague some SONET and SDH deployments."

For more information, visit www.paramanet.com