Carrier Ethernet

Ripped from the (Twitter) headlines: Ciena eyes Nortel optical/Carrier Ethernet biz

Ciena Corporation, a Maryland-based telecom equipment vendor, is chatting up bankrupt Nortel for its Optical Networking and Carrier Ethernet businesses, Nortel officials tweeted this afternoon.

Nortel Networks Corporation today confirmed that it is in advanced discussions with Ciena for the planned sale of substantially all assets within its Optical Networking and Carrier Ethernet businesses globally. The outcome of these discussions is uncertain and subject to negotiation of definitive agreements. Any agreements would be subject to a competitive bidding process to be approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

The announcement comes as Nortel’s latest sale — to Avaya for its unified communications (UC) business — has hade barely any time to cool off…

Finally, Nortel has some advanced discussions going on for these units. Read IDC carrier infrastructure
Eve Griliches’ column on why takers for Nortel’s assets have been few and far between. Maybe Alcatel-Lucent’s recent talk of converging network layers has made Nortel’s optical and Carrier Ethernet divisions a more appealing proposition for Ciena.

Traditional carriers lead business Ethernet market, study shows

Predictions about the growth of business Ethernet services in metro area networks have not been greatly exaggerated. Whether in spite of the recession or because of it, traditional telecom providers have found increased revenue in the business Ethernet market this year, according to a new report by Vertical Systems Group. The market report for the first half of 2009 showed that incumbent carriers’ business Ethernet installations are now greater than those of competitive providers and cable operators combined.

According to the consulting firm, AT&T made the biggest business Ethernet services gains, but Verizon and Qwest also gained market share in the first half of 2009. Lower-cost metro services were partially responsible for increased enterprise interest, according to Rick Malone, principal at Vertical Systems Group. The top nine business Ethernet service providers, by port share, are AT&T, Verizon, Time Warner Telecom, Cox, Qwest, Time Warner Cable, Cogent, XO and Level 3.

Telecom Timeout: Recession reactions

This week’s Telecom Timeout features Q4 results from Global Crossing, Comcast, Sprint Nextel and Rogers Communications, as well as a Carrier Ethernet progress report from the Juniper Networks and Nokia Siemens partnership, the results of the U.S. broadband stimulus package, and a 4G update on WiMAX and LTE from Verizon Wireless, Comcast, Clearwire, Qualcomm and CenturyTel. HP announces the new formation of its own telecom group, Nortel finds at least one buyer for some of its assets and YouTube is experimenting with downloadable content for a fee.

Keeping you up-to-date on the latest in telecommunications industry news, views and strategy, Telecom Timeout and its weekly video blog track the highs and lows of the industry. Join us daily on Telecom Timeout for conversations on developing telecom trends and in-depth analysis of service providers, VoIP, wireless, IPTV, telecom regulation, and more.

Telecom Timeout: IPTV and Ethernet for the win

This week’s Telecom Timeout features the latest information on Verizon’s new CFO, Alcatel-Lucent’s new Carrier Ethernet switch, and more on IPTV and Nortel.

Keeping you up-to-date on the latest in telecommunications industry news, views and strategy, Telecom Timeout and its weekly video blog track the highs and lows of the industry. Join us daily on Telecom Timeout for conversations on developing telecom trends and in-depth analysis of service providers, VoIP, wireless, IPTV, telecom regulation, and more.