Equinix to Deploy Ciena Gear to Enable On-Demand Network Provisioning Globally

Networking vendor Ciena has sold its switching platform for core metro networks to Equinix, the world's largest data center colocation provider, which will use it to enable on-demand network provisioning for a variety of connectivity services it offers to its customers.

The products include the Ciena 6500 platform, which provides 100Gbps capabilities and the ability to go up to 400Gbps in the future, the vendor's V-WAN network resource broker and scheduling application. The systems provide multi-layer Software Defined Network (SDN) control for rapid creation and provisioning of high-speed connections.

Ciena’s coherent optical technology and software will support Equinix's Cloud Exchange, which automates interconnection between cloud, network and managed service providers and enables service orchestration. The technology gives Equinix customers the ability to create a private 1Gb and 10Gb connection to transfer data between their own infrastructure and multiple cloud providers.

Building on its leadership as a multi-tenant data center provider, Equinix is leveraging its global facilities (it has presence in 32 markets around the world) and interconnections to lure more enterprise customers, with direct access to multiple cloud services.  Equinix has developed key partnerships with Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, AT&T and others to capture the enterprise opportunities.

From video services for sporting events to automated cloud interconnections, there is growing demand for sophisticated networking platforms to speed on-demand global network services.

“Many Equinix customers are looking for the ability to expand their networks globally and they require high-speed connections within a metro, or globally, between our IBX data centers," Equinix CTO Ihab Tarazi said. "Through our relationship with Ciena, we can offer customers a dynamic and automated interface to the hundreds of network and cloud service providers inside our data centers and meet their needs for next-generation connectivity solutions. ”