Press Releases
For Immediate Release - Santa Clara, California, May 28, 2002
Aurora Networks Introduces New Optical Node Optimized for High Bandwidth
Applications
Enables Cost-Effective Deployment of Passive HFC Architectures and
New Revenue Opportunities for Cable Operators
Santa Clara, CA. — May 28, 2002 — Aurora Networks, a leading
developer of advanced optical transport systems for broadband networks, today introduces
the Aurora 4000 series optical node, optimized for high bandwidth applications. The 4000
series optical node platform offers a very high degree of flexibility and expandability,
allowing cable operators to easily evolve their networks to meet emerging revenue
opportunities. By providing for small node service areas of 200 homes or less, the 4000
series node is optimized for the deployment of passive hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) networks,
minimizing or eliminating costly cascades of RF amplifiers. This fiber-deep architecture
allows cost-effective implementation of bandwidth-intensive services for residential and
business customers, such as high-speed Internet access, video-on-demand (VOD),
voice-over-IP (VoIP), interactive television and circuit-switched telephony.
In addition to enabling cable operators to optimize their networks and reduce
operating costs, the integrated Ethernet capabilities of the Aurora 4000 series node
provide a platform for the introduction of new revenue-generating services. At a modest cost,
operators can offer high-speed Internet access, VoIP and other broadband services to small
to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) for monthly revenues far greater than similar residential
services.
"By enabling cable operators to easily deploy a more reliable, passive
HFC architecture, the new Aurora 4000 series node significantly reduces operating costs
associated with active equipment, installation, network maintenance and power
consumption," said John Dahlquist, Vice President of Marketing for Aurora Networks.
"Additionally, with the Aurora 4000 series nodes in place, operators can immediately
recognize an untapped source of revenue by offering Ethernet services to the businesses
that they already pass. SMBs represent a significant untapped revenue stream with a high
profit potential for cable operators."
Passive Hybrid Fiber/Coax (HFC) Architectures
The passive HFC architecture extends optical fiber to the Aurora 4000 series
optical nodes installed within several hundred feet of the customer's home. The high RF
output capability of the 4000 series node minimizes the need for costly and unreliable
cascades of RF amplifiers. By reducing the size of the fiber serving area (FSA), the
available narrowcast bandwidth per user is increased.
Once in place, operators will realize reduced operating costs associated with
network maintenance, power consumption and simplified hubs, while achieving increased
network reliability and improved performance. This architecture also provides a cost
effective migration path to evolve the network to fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and/or
fiber-to-the-business (FTTB) implementations.
Revenue-Generating Ethernet Services for Small to Medium-Sized Businesses
SMBs are looking for alternatives to the solutions currently available to
them, which are expensive, slow, unavailable and/or unreliable. Enabled by Aurora's time
slot approach to bandwidth management, operators can provision and guarantee access
bandwidth in small increments while, at the same time, providing standardized Ethernet
interfaces between the operator's headend and the end customer. Aurora Networks'
patent-pending digital return transmission technologies support the transport of both
legacy upstream services and Ethernet-based services, such as high-speed Internet access
and VoIP.
Aurora 4000 Series Node
Optimized for high-bandwidth capacity in both the forward and return paths,
the Aurora 4000 series node is segmentable to serve four independent return service
areas and two independent forward service areas. This highly flexible segmentation
capability allows the network to be scaled for the balancing of forward and reverse
traffic loads to meet the operator's requirements. For network management of the node,
Aurora offers a cost-effective, plug-in monitoring option that enables remote monitoring
and control.
The 4000 series node and its diverse family of digital transponders and
transceivers enable the product to support a wide variety of network applications,
including network segmentation, "daisy-chaining" of multiple digital return
paths, dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) and a wide range of path lengths.
The Aurora 4000 series node will be available for shipment in July 2002.
About Aurora Networks
Founded in November 1999, Aurora Networks designs, develops, and markets advanced
optical communications systems for traditional hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) networks
and advanced, fiber-deep broadband networks. The company's advanced technology
delivers significant increases in bandwidth and functionality while providing
substantial cost savings when compared to traditional HFC network technology.
Aurora Networks is privately held, with headquarters at 4151 Burton Drive, Santa
Clara, California 95054. For more information on Aurora Networks or its products,
e-mail info@aurora.com, phone (408) 562-1770 or visit www.aurora.com.
Contact:
John Dahlquist
Vice President, Marketing
Aurora Networks, Inc.
408.562.1770 x133
jdahlquist@aurora.com
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