To update its current 2,500 fiber mile statewide optical network, middle-mile network operator Maryland Broadband Cooperative (MdBC) has contracted with Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) for new transport equipment. Under this effort, MdBC will provide 400G transport services to its more than 80 members, including telecom firms, ISPs, utilities, healthcare institutions, universities, as well as state and municipal governments.
“MdBC was founded to help address the lack of broadband access in unserved and underserved areas throughout Maryland. It’s the core of who we are,” said Drew Van Dopp, President and CEO of Maryland Broadband Cooperative. “Ciena’s leading optical and network management solutions afford us greater performance and reliability to improve broadband access – and thereby digital inclusion – across every county in the state. This will help fuel economic development, jobs, education, and telehealth, improving quality of life in our rural and chronically underserved communities.”
For on-demand, high-capacity 400G connectivity with changeable programmability, MdBC’s network will make use of Ciena’s 6500 T-Series Packet-Optical Platform with WaveLogic Ai coherent technology. This would increase transport efficiency and reliability.
New Optical Network
The new optical network will be managed in concert with an existing cell site network that makes use of Ciena’s 5171 routing and switching platform by the Manage, Control and Plan (MCP) domain controller. PinPoint OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer) integration would give MdBC the ability to do preventive maintenance and expedite the investigation of fiber cuts.
Ciena Services also offers maintenance and managed services throughout the whole optical network to guarantee peak performance, implementation services to shorten time to market, and implementation services.
“With Ciena, MdBC is creating a connectivity ‘superhighway’ that will flexibly scale to meet the digital needs of residents, businesses, schools, hospitals and public safety agencies in rural Maryland,” said Steve Alexander, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Ciena. “MdBC will have the network capacity required to advance digital equity in its communities for years to come. This is particularly exciting for us as a Maryland-based business.”
