Taking the Ciena Type of Technology to the Next Level?

Implications: 1.      Getting Rob Adams was a big coup for Ekinops.   2.      As a high-level veteran of Ciena, Adams gives the newcomer a lot of credibility.   3.      Ekinops absolutely believes it can compete against Ciena successfully.

Analysis:  Ekinops makes an astounding assertion in its presentations combining its “T-chip” along with optics to create different transport systems.  The supplier tells carriers, from a transport perspective, to forget everything they have heard about getting to Ethernet quickly because it is more cost-effective.  It claims that it can deliver all protocols at an Ethernet cost point.  And Ekinops states that its chip technology can enable delivery of any combinations of the following while staying at that same low cost: 1) client and line protocols (including SONET/SDH, Fibre Channel, ESCON, video, etc), 2) lengths (from access to ultra long haul), 3) varying amounts of wavelengths options, 4) flexibility on rates (2.5G/10G/40G, etc.), 5) various capabilities (ADM, FEC, etc.) – while claiming interoperability with existing systems in the network.  

Ciena made great headway with its programmable port technology.  Ekinops argues it has taken this innovation to the next step.  In downloading new firmware along with the programmability of its T-chip, it can give the carriers the flexibility and speed to upgrade a customer’s card in the field.   Ekinops says that its solution is more cost-effective because it is a single chip on a board (instead of having eight to nine chips) – providing a much smaller form factor and lower power consumption.   

Ekinops contends that Ciena could not reach this capability without a total re-architecting   of its systems.  Undoubtedly, Ekinops is hoping that a supplier, such as Ciena, will ultimately buy it out to get to this next-generation capability, assuming the former makes a significant amount of penetration into the market.