AFN Communications Selects CIENA as Network Partner

TULSA, Okla., Nov. 9 -- AFN Communications (AFN), a network service provider that supplies carrier-class broadband transport services to underserved and primary markets, has selected CIENA Corp. as its primary optical networking partner. CIENA will supply intelligent optical networking equipment for AFN's North American network.

Approximately 2,000 route miles of AFN's initial 8,000-route-mile footprint are currently in operation and supporting customers. AFN will light the balance of its fiber with CIENA's LightWorks optical networking equipment, which will provide the scalability, flexibility and reliability to support AFN's service offerings, including private line (DS-3 up to OC-48) and optical wave (2.5 Gbps to 10 Gbps) services.

AFN will deploy CIENA's CoreDirector intelligent optical core switch, CoreStream DWDM transport solution and MetroDirector K2TM multiservice access and switching platform. CIENA also will provide AFN with professional services and support, including network engineering and installation. Deployment of the CIENA equipment is expected to begin immediately.