Force10 Networks Transforms Service Provider Network Economics With Introduction of Cost-Effective Packet Over SONET.

MILPITAS, Calif. -- Force10 Networks(R), the pioneer in building and securing high performance networks, today announced that it is fundamentally altering service provider network economics by integrating multi-rate packet over SONET/SDH (POS) technology into the TeraScale E-Series(R) family of switch/routers. As the first in the industry to cost effectively combine packet over SONET functionality with an advanced 10 Gigabit Ethernet architecture, Force10 is driving down the cost of building and maintaining networks for service providers, Internet exchanges, broadband providers, transit carriers and hosting providers.

"The rise of IP-based services coupled with declining profit margins has forced service providers to explore new ways to optimize their networks for packetized traffic while still maintaining their significant investment in SONET/SDH technology," said Scott Clavenna, principal analyst at market research firm Heavy Reading. "Moving SONET/SDH functionality to an Ethernet-based architecture allows service providers to transition to an IP-based network while reducing the cost of maintaining the network, thereby increasing margins."

While 10 Gigabit Ethernet deployments are growing rapidly in service provider networks, there remains a multi-billion dollar installed base of SONET/SDH. With the addition of packet over SONET/SDH to the TeraScale E-Series, Force10 enables service providers to seamlessly and cost effectively expand existing legacy infrastructure while laying the foundation for the migration to 10 Gigabit Ethernet.

The Force10 four-port multi-rate line card allows service providers to select between OC-3c/STM-1c, OC-12c/STM-4c and OC-48c/STM-16c speeds on a per port basis, delivering the flexibility required to efficiently provision the network. Service providers can also select between SONET and SDH framing on a per port basis, as well as various encapsulation methods, to further simplify the architecture of transcontinental networks.

Traditional solutions, originally designed for voice networks, are based on more expensive SONET/SDH architectures. The addition of Ethernet functionality to these solutions prevents service providers from realizing the cost advantages of Ethernet, forcing them to pay SONET-like prices for 10 Gigabit Ethernet. The Force10 TeraScale E-Series is the first next generation switch/router to leverage an Ethernet architecture to deliver packet over SONET/SDH functionality, providing a significant cost savings to service providers that want to leverage existing networks as they transition to 10 Gigabit Ethernet.

"By combining packet over SONET/SDH with a resilient, cost-effective Ethernet architecture, Force10 bridges the gap between legacy and next generation networks at a cost significantly lower than alternative solutions," said Sachi Sambandan, vice president of engineering for Force10 Networks. "With high density support for both packet over SONET/SDH and 10 Gigabit Ethernet, the Force10 TeraScale E-Series uniquely enables our customers to profitably expand the capacity of their networks, extend the life of legacy assets and create a scalable foundation for future growth."

With leading Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet density as well as high speed, low cost multi-rate packet over SONET/SDH, the Force10 TeraScale E-Series delivers to service providers the tools they need to seamlessly and cost effectively build new networks and expand existing ones.

Pricing and availability

The Force10 four-port OC-3c/OC-12c/OC-48c line card will be available in August at a list price of $100,000.

About Force10 Networks

Force10 Networks is the pioneer in building and securing high performance networks. Based on a revolutionary system architecture that delivers best-in-class resiliency and massive scalability, Force10's TeraScale E-Series switch/routers ensure predictable application performance, increase network availability, and reduce operating costs. Today, many of the world's largest Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet networks depend on Force10 Networks. For additional information, please visit www.force10networks.com.

Force10 Networks and E-Series are registered trademarks, and P-Series, S-Series, TeraScale and FTOS are trademarks of Force10 Networks, Inc. All other company names are trademarks of their respective holders.