CALIENT Technologies and Data Connection Announce First-to-Market GMPLS Protocol Software for Photonically-Switched Networks
Lambda Switching Software Stack Addresses Signaling, Routing, Connection Control and Link Management Protocol Functions

San Jose, Calif. and London, UK, July 9, 2001 – CALIENT Networks, a leading developer of all-photonic switching systems, and Data Connection Limited (DCL), a leading provider of communications protocol software, today announced completion of the first IETF standards-compliant GMPLS software stack for photonically-switched networks.

The software was the product of a 16-month joint-development effort by both companies, wherein DCL produced the GMPLS signaling software code, and CALIENT Technologies developed the routing, connection control and LMP (Link Management Protocol) code, to operate on CALIENT’s DiamondWave™ photonic switching system.

"Our development work with DCL has culminated in a substantial time-to-market lead for this enabling software," stated Charles Corbalis, CALIENT founder and CEO. "We believe that GMPLS is an essential ingredient in open photonic networking, and we have aggressively pursued completion of this stack so that implementation is in the take-off mode as the IETF finishes the standards."

John Drake, CALIENT chief network architect, IETF standards co-author and lead on CALIENT’s GMPLS implementation efforts, emphasized, "DCL is in a class by itself, they are the quality and performance benchmark for portable protocol software, and with their leadership in MPLS software, they were the natural partner choice for us in this work. We paralleled the progress of the IETF network working committee through approval of each functional extension for GMPLS, and worked in lockstep with complementary network element partners such as Juniper Networks, Tellabs and Marconi, to ensure code interoperability and robust performance."

"Working with CALIENT in this technology has given us a huge advantage in the development of our MPLS solution for the optical network," said Phil McConnell, DCL CEO. "Their leadership in the development of the standards and the insight they have provided into its application have enabled us to develop an implementation that is both first-to-market and of very high quality."

GMPLS is a key IETF standard approaching full ratification by the MPLS working group. It is moving into the implementation stage within IP/photonic networks, through leading platform companies and carriers in the optical network industry. Core benefits of GMPLS include rapid provisioning of wavelengths, dynamic network restoration, flexible network protection, multi-vendor/multi-element interoperability, unified network management and control, and open network architecture.

The lambda switching software stack has already concluded successful interoperability testing with leading gigabit router, DWDM transmission systems and optical switching/grooming platforms, in anticipation of release to service providers during 2H 01.

About CALIENT Technologies
CALIENT Technologies is a developer of intelligent, all-photonic switching systems and software that help service providers scale their networks for explosive bandwidth demands and deliver a new generation of wavelength services. CALIENT’s architecture and DiamondWave switching system will provide a seamless, ‘opto-electronic-to-photonic’ migration path that is non-disruptive to legacy operations, and near-term opportunity for carriers to offer revenue-generating optical services from their photonic infrastructure. Founded in March 1999, the company is headquartered in San Jose, California. For additional information about CALIENT, visit www.calient.net.

CALIENT Technologies, the CALIENT Technologies logo, and DiamondWave are trademarks of CALIENT Technologies, Inc.

About Data Connection
Data Connection Limited (DCL) is a leading independent developer and supplier of ATM, LMP, MPLS, MGCP/Megaco, SCTP, SIP, SS7, conferencing, unified messaging, directory and SNA portable products. Customers include 3Com, Cabletron, Cisco, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi, IBM Corp., Lucent, Microsoft, Nortel Networks, NCR, SGI and Sun. Data Connection is headquartered in London, UK, with US offices in Reston, VA and Alameda, CA. For information, contact Toby Eccles at thme@dataconnection.com, phone +44 20 8366 1177, or visit our Web site at www.dataconnection.com.

Data Connection is a trademark of Data Connection Limited and Data Connection Corporation. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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