AboveNet Case Study

DWDM Services

The Project:

The client needed DWDM services between their existing New York City Datacenter and a new Datacenter to be located in central New Jersey for sub 50ms latency, 10___ db loss for data replication and security. The client’s initial requirement was to increase overall transmission bandwidth to 10G services with the completion and commissioning of the new datacenter and associated network connectivity.

The new datacenter was not going to be ready for production until Q2, 2007. The client’s production network requirements would need the 10G capability by year-end 2006.

Constraints:

• Connect and integrate existing multiple Datacenters
• Installed by year-end 2006
• Decrease cost by utilizing existing equipment
• Provide multiple location synchronous data replication

AboveNet provided us with solid core networking infrastructure that would evolve and support our service-oriented business landscape – one that we believe will provide significant competitive advantage in the near future. Client IT manager

As one of the leading global providers of data, news and analytics, the client needed a core network infrastructure to be redundant, resilient, secure, scaleable and flexible. The client’s media services provide real-time and archived financial and market data, pricing, trading, news and communications tools in a single, integrated package to corporations, news organizations, financial and legal professionals and individuals around the world. AboveNet’s DWDM technology allows for multiple transports of multiple data streams, protocols and applications on a single fiber pair.

AboveNet’s objective was to provide a solution that addressed bandwidth, growth, diversity and latency needs while allowing the Client to re-use hardware as part of the New Jersey Data Center consolidation.

Key Challenges:

• The distance between the data centers required multiple amplification/regeneration sites.
• The customer needed the ability to grow to a total of 16 10G waves without impacting the live network.
• The existing New Jersey datacenter data center will be replaced with a new New Jersey datacenter in the near future.
• Due to compliance requirements the optical solutions must have complete route diversity.
• Service channels must be compatible and easily migratable to the new New Jersey network
• Must be available by year-end 2006.

The Solution:
Providing a core network infrastructure to a sophisticated 24-hour business and financial news provider such as the client was challenging in itself. “Our television entity delivers tools for power players and serious investors via 10 networks in seven languages, reaching more than 200 million homes around the world- Client Radio provides 24-hour business news for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut “ states Client IT manager.

Keeping all of this in mind we designed a solution that addressed bandwidth, growth & diversity.

AboveNet Solution & Services provided:
AboveNet designed a network utilizing the Nortel 5200 platform with one amplification site on the short leg and two amplification sites on the long path. There were two chassis at each end point, with additional C-band filters to provide for maximum growth without having to interrupt live network traffic. AboveNet is utilizing new fiber routes along the New Jersey Turnpike and new entrances into the client’s New Jersey facility which shortens the overall route and lowers latency. This platform addressed two significant objectives:

1. Provide multiple location synchronous data replication
2. Utilize existing client equipment to reduce costs.

Our objective was clear and present. As an expert in providing fiber connectivity solutions to leading enterprise giants such as the client we knew that our core network design needed to be rock solid.

AboveNet is the industry leader with extensive experience and expertise in designing and managing complex custom optical network solutions, more than 1000 optically-enabled buildings and 1.5M metro fiber miles within major U.S. markets and London.

We build networks and relationships; due to AboveNet’s long-term strategic partnership and relationship with hardware vendors (i.e. Nortel) and our strong operations teams, this allowed for us to expedite hardware and equipment orders and commit to a year-end build date as a viable solution while maintaining a competitive SLA in the market. Please note: AboveNet is hardware agnostic – utilizing Nortel, Cisco and Ciena hardware for WDM solutions.

Key Benefits for type of Solution & Services provided:

• High speed, low latency, diversity, growth, compatibility with existing client equipment.

Implementation and Hardware:
Our deployment date is scheduled for fourth quarter 2006. AboveNet plans to install new 10G Ultra cards which will allow for longer distances before regeneration or dispersion compensation is needed (AboveNet TrueWave fiber also allows for much longer spans than standard Single Mode fiber). In addition, new 10G Ultra cards with XFP pluggable client interface will simplify ordering as well as allow customers to easily change interface from SM to MM.

* The client is an AboveNet customer who asked to remain anonymous.