ADVA Optical Networking and COLT Deploy Market's First 8G Fibre Channel Service Over Distance


Leading service provider uses ADVA FSP 3000 to offer higher Fibre Channel bitrates across longer distances than ever before

Norcross, Georgia, USA and Martinsried/Munich, Germany -- January 19, 2009 -- ADVA Optical Networking (www.advaoptical.com) and COLT (www.colt.net), a leading provider of data, voice and managed enterprise services, today announced the market's first deployment of an 8Gbit/s Fibre Channel (FC) service over distance. Featured within a customer's Storage Area Network (SAN), the new service, built specifically upon the ADVA FSP 3000's 8Gbit/s FC card, provides a point-to-point link that stretches beyond 135km. Connecting two data centers with an 8Gbit/s FC link across this distance was dependent upon the ADVA FSP 3000's Raman amplification capabilities to eliminate the need for mid-span huts and the associated operations and maintenance costs.

"The increasing growth in data-intensive, high-speed networking applications, particularly in storage environments, is driving the demand for Fibre Channel solutions at higher bitrates and longer distances," said Dr. Alireza Mahmoodshahi, COLT group chief technology officer (CTO). "ADVA Optical Networking understands this demand and has developed an industry leading 8Gbit/s FC solution capable of responding to our customers' needs. Successfully tested and deployed, ADVA Optical Networking has helped us to deliver a key service and a market first. We look forward to rolling this out to more customers soon."

ADVA Optical Networking and COLT Telecom are currently the only companies capable of deploying 8Gbit/s FC over distance and have worked extensively to ensure the solution is able to perform under the most stressful network demands. Before installation, ADVA Optical Networking developed and extensively tested its 8Gbit/s FC solution in its Meiningen, Germany, laboratories, ensuring that it could operate over large distances and that it is compatible with 10-, 4-, 2- and 1Gbit/s FC interfaces and a range of industry switches, including Brocade's 8Gbit/s SAN switch. This comprehensive compatibility ensures that enterprises can deploy all FC interfaces in the same network without additional capital expenses.

"ADVA Optical Networking has a long history of developing technology innovations of real market value. We were among the first companies to introduce 4Gbit/s and 10Gbit/s FC, and this successful implementation of 8Gbit/s FC further emphasizes our commitment to the storage industry," stated Dr. Christoph Glingener, chief technology officer (CTO) at ADVA Optical Networking. "COLT and ADVA Optical Networking have worked extensively to ensure this 8Gbit/s FC service is specifically tailored to meet enterprises' growing data demands with the most cost-effective and flexible solution possible."

ABOUT ADVA OPTICAL NETWORKING

ADVA Optical Networking (FSE: ADV) is at the forefront of providing Optical+Ethernet solutions that advance next-generation networks for data, storage, voice and video services. Our company's strength comes from passionate and dedicated employees, all sharing a common vision: a fast, customized response to customers' ever-changing needs. Our innovative FSP products and strong customer focus provide carriers and enterprises the ability to scale their networks and deliver intelligent, competitive new services. ADVA Optical Networking's solutions have been deployed at more than 200 carriers and 10,000 enterprises around the world. For further information about ADVA Optical Networking: www.advaoptical.com.

ABOUT COLT

COLT is a leading European provider of business communications. COLT specialises in providing data, voice and managed services to major businesses, SMEs and wholesale customers. COLT owns and operates a 13-country, 25,000km network that includes metropolitan area networks in 34 major European cities with direct fibre connections into 14,000 buildings and 18 COLT data centres.

COLT Telecom Group S.A. is listed on the London Stock Exchange (COLT). Information about COLT and its services can be found at www.colt.net.

PUBLISHED BY:

ADVA AG Optical Networking, Martinsried/Munich and Meiningen, Germany

ADVA Optical Networking North America, Inc., Norcross, Georgia, USA

ADVA Optical Networking (Shenzhen) Ltd., Shenzhen, China

www.advaoptical.com

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