RESTON, Va., May 22 -- Optisphere Networks Inc., a subsidiary of Siemens Information and Communication Networks Inc., announced its participation in the Optical Internetworking Forum's (OIF) interoperability test.
    Optisphere successfully demonstrated the interoperability of its Optical Cross Connect (OXC) system with the OIF standard, one of the most applicable international standards for this interface. The results are important because they indicate that carriers will be able to perform point-and-click provisioning of services in their optical network, which means a reduction in the time required to accomplish provisioning. The interoperability testing was based on the OIF User Network Interface 1.0 protocol, which allows client devices to use optical network resources and to establish clear optical circuit connections. It was the first multivendor, multitechnology test and the first true example of optical internetworking, the company said.
    Optisphere will demonstrate its OXC system, which ties DWDM point-to-point links to an optical network, at the OIF's Supercomm 2001 demonstration June 5-7 in Atlanta, Georgia. The OXC system uses optical mirrors based on microelectromechanical systems silicon technology to carry out switching functions in a 128 x 128 matrix.