Alcatel-Lucent

The Alcatel-Lucent Converged Backbone Transformation (CBT) solution introduces a game-changing approach to managing the bandwidth explosion on today’s core networks. It is a key component of our High Leverage Network™ (HLN) architecture.

Service providers are faced with an exabyte flood of video and mobile Internet traffic in the network. They need to slash transport costs and dramatically reduce operational complexity in core networks to reduce the cost per bit and improve operational efficiency. They also need to make sure the network can cost-effectively deliver even higher bandwidth services tomorrow.

IP-optical convergence

The Alcatel-Lucent CBT solution integrates the IP and optical layers in the network to provide significant benefits:

• Slash transport costs by efficiently handling massive traffic volumes at the lowest possible layer.
• Reduce operational complexity by using intelligent control and management with seamless network visibility.
• Scale bandwidth by laying the foundation for tomorrow’s higher-bandwidth services

The key innovation in the Alcatel-Lucent CBT solution is a broad range of flexible grooming and IP shortcut options. These options take advantage of tighter integration and visibility between the IP and optical layers across the data, control, and management planes to increase the efficiency of the network and to reduce costs.

The traditional approach to dealing with traffic growth in the backbone is to add capacity — more ports, links and network elements. But this practice quickly becomes unsustainable. It does not cost effectively address traffic growth, service diversity or service revenues. Unnecessary traffic processing — combined with inefficient use of interconnect ports — force unnecessary and costly network upgrades.

A stronger core
The Alcatel-Lucent CBT solution’s flexible grooming and IP shortcut options increase network utilization and efficiency within the core. They also minimize unnecessary processing of transit traffic from core routers — reducing costs, power, and latency. It’s similar to filling an elevator to capacity then sending it on an express route to the top floor instead of stopping at every floor to drop off one or two passengers.

Single-minded optical transport and router suppliers take a limited view of increasing transport efficiency and reducing associated costs. Alcatel-Lucent is unique in that it is a world-leading IP and optical company. Our solution reflects this expertise with greater intelligence in the way the IP and optical layers manage and groom the breadth and scale of traffic in the network.

100G delivers network scale and new services

Video and collaborative multimedia apps are exploding in popularity. At the same time, new services, such as data center connectivity, are driving enormous increases in network traffic. As service providers strive to profitably meet rising demands, they’re looking to 100G technologies to reduce cost per bit and improve transport efficiency.

• On the optical transport front, service providers can build scalable backbone infrastructures while avoiding expensive network upgrades.
• On the IP front, service providers can introduce 100G Ethernet seamlessly on existing networks. This minimizes risks, costs and complexity.
• When combined with opportunities for delivering innovative new services at high speeds, the 100G transformation yields healthy revenue streams that far outpace the associated costs.

Alcatel-Lucent has a long track record and commitment to innovation. Industry-leading silicon — developed in-house — is at the heart of our 100G success in IP and optics, and both portfolios feature silicon that far surpasses commercially available options. The Alcatel-Lucent 100G IP and optical technologies began commercial deliveries in 2010 — well ahead of its competitors —de-risking today's deployments with field proven success.

A cohesive 100G offering across our IP and optics portfolios is an essential component of the Alcatel-Lucent Converged Backbone Transformation solution.

Scalable, efficient, smart

People expect a high quality of experience and seamless, always-on access to multimedia services across wireline and wireless devices any time, any place, anywhere.

The Alcatel-Lucent Converged Backbone Transformation solution scales to address the bandwidth explosion straining networks today. It also lays the foundation for the new innovative services of tomorrow. The solution:

• Simplifies network provisioning and fault management
• Reduces latency
• Increases network efficiency and resiliency
• Reduces complexity

And the entire solution is 30% less costly.