Network Innovation Insights, Issue 3

In this edition of Ciena's Network Innovation Insights Newsletter, we highlight the need for operators to find a path to better broadband, why ODA, OSS Modernization, AI, and Automation seem to be front and center in the plans of our customer leadership teams, how to drive a successful deployment of new network equipment, and more.?

A path to better broadband: Operators are facing a critical decision when it comes to deploying their broadband access networks. Ciena's Joe Marsella explains how you can get on a better path to unlocking the value of your fiber and ensuring long-term success in an evolving digital landscape.?

Today, operators find themselves at a crossroads, a critical decision point regarding the build-out of their broadband access networks. This decision could impact the direction of their business over the three-decade lifespan of their fiber. Selecting a technology partner to go on a 30-year journey is no easy task.?

Why? Because this is more than just an investment decision. It’s about selecting a partner that is able to provide the needed flexibility so that you can scale to meet increasing demand, decrease churn, and hit sustainability objectives. Operators need to rethink deployment models not only in the context of today’s essential broadband access needs but also with an eye on the lasting impact on their business objectives and customer experience.??

While different operators and verticals face unique challenges, a common thread runs through them all: how to best serve their customers while securing their financial and operational success. This means establishing, maintaining, or growing their subscriber base while generating new service revenues and improving efficiency in capital and operational expenses.?

So how does this common thread relate to key decisions operators face as they consider deployment alternatives in their broadband access networks? It all begins with the business challenges.?

Continue reading The path to better broadband: How to unlock the value of your access networks >?

Like many others in the Digital Transformation domain, the Blue Planet team attended the TM Forum's DTW - Ignite conference in Copenhagen. Joe Cumello , VP and GM, Blue Planet, outlines some of the key insights and themes from the event and why ODA, OSS Modernization, AI, and Automation seem to be front and center in the plans of our customer leadership teams.?

Read more in DTW: Key Takeaways on ODA, OSS Modernization and AI from the Event >?

Alabama is investing over $300 million with several last- and middle-mile providers to expand an open access middle-mile network throughout the State, allocating a significant portion of American Rescue Plan Act dollars toward a middle- and last-mile broadband initiative. One beneficiary of this investment is the Alabama Fiber Network (AFN), a coalition of eight rural electric cooperatives.?

AFN has selected Ciena as its optical networking vendor for the converged IP/optical middle-mile network, which leverages Ciena’s WaveLogic 5 Nano (WL5n) 400G Coherent Pluggable Transceivers and 6500 Reconfigurable Line System (RLS). Bruce Hembree , VP and General Manager, Americas at Ciena was on hand at AFN’s ‘Connect Alabama’ event to celebrate the official launch of AFN’s service.??

Learn more in Alabama Fiber Network Chooses Ciena for the Middle Mile >?

To ensure the successful deployment of new network equipment, you must first build a solid foundation. To build this foundation, there are four logical steps to follow and services you can leverage to ensure your success:??

1. Begin by making sure your fiber plant is ready with Fiber Characterization.???
2. Next, work with experts who clarify your business requirements and combine them with the data from the fiber characterization to develop and finalize a Solution Design that meets your needs.??
3. After that, save operational cost and time with Staging in Factory to ensure your equipment is 100% ready-to-go out of the box.??
4. And most importantly, rely on a trusted ally for your network deployment so you can have confidence that your deployment is done efficiently with minimal disruptions to your business operations and ensuring maximum network performance.??

Dive deeper into the importance and benefits of each of these steps in 4 key steps for a successful network equipment deployment >?

Passive optical networks (PONs) have evolved significantly over the years to meet the escalating demand for bandwidth and performance. The following recording of a live demonstration shows the coexistence of XGS-PON and 25GS-PON on the same single fiber, enabling both residential and business services.?

Watch more related videos >?

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