The design and development team at Tejas Networks has been working on next-generation optical networking products, since 2000. These products will enable telecom carriers to build converged networks that support both voice as well as new data services. We took a look at what’s happening in the company’s R&D labs.

With technology changing rapidly, the ‘pure product’ approach of taking time to develop a product and then selling it over a long period of time is no longer feasible. Starting with next-generation SDH (synchronous digital hierarchy) that provides a single platform for all circuit-oriented time division multiplexing (TDM) services and point-to-point data services, Tejas Networks’ products have evolved over the last six years to provide sophisticated data services as defined by the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF).

The company’s R&D team is now planning standards-based carrier Ethernet equipment that provides the same functionality but is based on the evolution of Ethernet, while retaining the management capability, resilience and other features of SDH/SONET (synchronous optical network).

Voice and data services

Tejas Networks has addressed the market for point-to-point Ethernet services (known as E-Line services) through its Ethernet-over-SDH solution. In its next generation SDH/SONET networks, the company allows the service providers to deliver both voice and data services from the same equipment. “{quotes}While the first generation of SDH/SONET supported purely voice, we helped build the next generation, integrating voice with data (Ethernet-over-SDH) and managed end-to-end, using intelligent network management{/quotes},” says Kumar N. Sivarajan, chief technology officer, Tejas Networks.

The Ethernet-integrated SDH portfolio of Tejas claims to provide a lower operational and capital expenditure, while cutting down on separate Ethernet equipment. A simplified converged network makes it more manageable, thus reducing operational expenditure. This advantage, in turn, translates into lower costs for consumers.

Dishnet DSL is an example of this technology. Tejas has provided the Ethernet-over-SDH solution that enables Dishnet DSL to market differentiated services such as bandwidth-on-demand, Ethernet-leased lines, Customer Network Management (CNM) and Virtual Private Network (VPN) at low costs, in addition to its dial-up and DSL services.

Today, Ethernet-over-SDH/SONET (EoS) can only provide point-to-point Ethernet services. In tune with market requirements for connecting multiple locations in a cost-effective manner, Tejas is now looking at taking the Ethernet capabilities of its products to the next level.