ACADEMIA

ADVA Optical Networking Solution Supports Groundbreaking Rollout of Broadband Services Across Underserved Regions

ADVA Optical Networking has announced that Bluebird Network has selected the ADVA FSP 3000 for a government-stimulus-funded project that will enable the extension of broadband services to underserved regions in Missouri. Bluebird’s Missouri Ultra-High Capacity Middle Mile Project is supported by a $45 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant from the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and a $10.5 million in-kind contribution from the state of Missouri, as well as private investors.

The grant for Bluebird Network's ultra-high-capacity, middle-mile network was awarded in 2010. Today, Bluebird’s fiber network encompasses 4,500 miles across Missouri and Illinois. The grant will add 1,500 miles to this network and, along with other construction, will bring the total network to 6,000 miles. The expansion is targeted for completion in fall 2012. It is designed to provide services of up to 10Gbit/s to local last-mile providers of residential and business services and over 100 “community anchor institutions,” such as community colleges and other institutions of higher learning, elementary and secondary schools, libraries, hospitals, medical and healthcare providers, courthouses, public-safety entities and other government facilities. Services to be supported include video on demand, telemedicine, remote education and testing, Internet Protocol (IP) and High-Definition (HD) TV, video conferencing with multiple users, remote computing, real-time medical-image consulting and effective utilization of electronic medical records.

“Introducing high-speed Internet services in rural areas can be a daunting challenge because they often are limited to bandwidth-constrained infrastructure and legacy technologies,” said Michael Morey, President and CEO with Bluebird Network. “In Missouri and Illinois we’ve created a robust, 6,000-mile network that relieves fiber exhaust, upgrades on SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) infrastructure and brings sometimes unprecedented services to the 59 counties funded by the grant. ADVA Optical Networking’s DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) system and management software provide our network with the scalable optical transport and simple flexibility to match capabilities with data demands across both legacy and new infrastructure.”

Added John Scherzinger, Senior Vice President of Sales at ADVA Optical Networking: "Throughout the United States, we're working with companies that are helping to bridge the digital divide, companies that are driving connectivity and innovation to the underserved. Bluebird Network understands what's at stake here and the impact broadband connectivity can have on businesses, communities and individuals. Its network is a clear testament to what we can achieve. We need to ensure that every region and everybody has access to the Internet and to new opportunities."

The ADVA FSP 3000 supports up to 40 100Gbit/s secure and reliable wavelengths for multiplexing, transporting and protecting Bluebird Network’s array of high-speed data, storage, voice and video traffic. ADVA Optical Networking’s ROADM capability and RAYcontrol GMPLS control plane allow Bluebird Network to use a combination of hardware pre-provisioning, point-and-click configuration and flexible provisioning to deliver exceptional service-delivery experience and lead times.