Global Crossing Installs Nortel High-Capacity Optical Backbone

OTTAWA, Nov. 15 -- Nortel Networks has deployed what it calls the world's longest, high-capacity terrestrial optical backbone in commercial service in the North American network of Global Crossing.

Spanning approximately 1,500 kilometers, the backbone currently supports 200 Gb/s of data without optoelectronic regeneration and has the capability to support up to 560 Gb/s. It is based on Nortel Networks OPTera Long Haul 4000 Optical Line System.

"By delivering faster, wider and longer networks, Nortel Networks is positioning its customers to deliver profitable, next-generation services," said Greg Mumford, president of Optical Long Haul Networks, Nortel Networks. "We have provided Global Crossing with a network that gives its global customers access to a broader range of seamless network services unabated by the distance or capacity limitations currently facing other networks."