How much of a Threat To Ciena is “Next-Generation” Optical Firmware?

Implications: 1.      The ability to do firmware changes in the field and to do software adaptations of port speeds or protocols has been around for a while – and Ciena has been a leader with this type of capability. 2.      There is no question that as feature sets continue to evolve that avoiding the necessity of having to send things back or having to change out cards is a positive option. 3.      However, there is always still the issues in engineers’ heads that when that gets done -- the possibility of adversely affecting their customers on the current product.  

Analysis:  Back even in the early days of Ciena’s CN 4200, the claim was made that a port could be converted from FiCON to GigE or a port could be made into an OC-3 or OC-12.  (Of course, one could not change an OC-12 port to OC-48 because the physics are not the same.)  And so it might be somewhat of a stretch when Ekinops suggests that its approach in using firmware to make alterations in the network is the wave of the future.  

The concern for engineers is what happens to the present circuits as well as a set of  services in making such a change.  There has to be an ample amount of trust that there are not going to be any major bugs with the new version of the code being put out there.  Certainly, Tier 1 carriers are going to need to conduct verification testing over an extended period of time in a lab environment.   Therefore, a newcomer offering such capability would have to go through such a long process before it would even be considered for deployment.  

It is interesting to take note of a couple of carriers.  Global Crossing is Ekinops’ largest user of its product – but the service provider has a reputation for going with the cheapest equipment available with the effect on its network seemingly being a secondary issue.  In addition, although the old Broadwing continues to use the vendor’s solution, Level 3, which has never been scared to use new technology, has no apparent plans to go forward with further installations.