Energy uses Ciena optical network in research

The Energy Department's UltraScience Network is gradually developing and will ultimately connect select sites with a high-speed optical network intended for use as a test platform to develop new technologies.

Ciena's CoreStream Agility optical transport system now connects Oak Ridge National Laboratory with sites along a route stretching from Chicago to Atlanta and can support up to 1.92 terabits/sec. The company’s CoreDirector switching system will soon be deployed at critical points throughout the network, including Oak Ridge and facilities in Chicago, Seattle, Atlanta and Sunnyvale, Calif.

Ciena announced the developments today.

The network's main purpose is to allow scientists to develop technologies needed for future advanced networks. While an aggressive user can grab all the bandwidth available on a conventional network, the UltraScience Network allows dedicated links to be set up for a specified time to ensure that tests or experiments can be conducted without such interference.

“Oak Ridge is pushing the envelope for advanced networking," said Jim Archuleta, senior manager of government marketing at Ciena Government Solutions.

The UltraScience Network is "a critical component of the advancement of research networking," he said. "We’d like to see that continue.”

The national labs are a strong niche for Ciena, said Rob Rice, vice president and managing director of Ciena Government Solutions.

“We’re focused on [the Defense Department] and civilian agencies, and the research and education community, of which this is a part," he said. “These folks are very bright and intelligent people.”