LINTHICUM, Md. and INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — 05/17/2011 — Ciena® Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN), the network specialist, today announced that it has partnered with Telamon Corporation, a value-added distributor, system integrator and reseller of telecommunication products, to bring high-speed broadband access and 4G wireless services to the Navajo Nation. Initiated by the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) and funded by a federal stimulus grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), the new next-generation network will include 550 miles of new aerial fiber-optic cable and 59 new or modified microwave towers to connect the Navajo Nation across a 27,000 square mile service area.
NTUA is a non-profit, multi-utility company that provides electric, water, wastewater, natural gas and solar-powered services to the Navajo Nation in the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah – the largest Indian reservation in the United States. NTUA also owns, operates and maintains a comprehensive communications infrastructure in support of its utility services. The NTUA project is intended to enable area service providers to deliver affordable voice, video, data and cellular services to nearly 30,000 households, 1,000 businesses and an additional 1,100 anchor institutions, including 49 Chapter Houses that serve as community centers, at speeds from 10MBps to 10Gbps.
“This project will certainly close the wireless technological gap that currently exists here in the southwest. This improvement opens many doors that will bring progress to our region,” said Walter Haase, NTUA General Manager. “This is progress for the Navajo Nation, our people, our children, and our businesses in terms of economic development. This is a significant progressive step forward.”
Last mile wireless services will be offered at speeds between 1 and 3Mbps through the project’s wireless partner Commnet Wireless, LLC. The new network will enable public safety, health, social services and emergency care facilities, as well as local government and administration offices to deliver distance learning, telemedicine, security monitoring, SCADA services, and other advanced applications not possible with the current infrastructure.
“The NTUA’s new high-speed broadband network, along with advanced 4G wireless services, will bring sorely needed Internet access to the Navajo Nation, providing greater opportunity to the Navajo People for economic development and to improve quality of life for residents throughout the region,” said Rob Sterrenberg, vice president and general manager, Optical Networks for Telamon. “Both Telamon and Ciena are uniquely positioned to deliver these advantages, with Ciena’s broad technology portfolio and our collective expertise in integrating large, diverse networks across variable terrain.”
The Navajo Nation’s new converged optical Ethernet network will be connected by Ciena’s comprehensive suite of packet-optical transport and Carrier Ethernet solutions, including the ActivSpan 4200 Advanced Services Platform, ActivFlex 6130 Multiservice Optical Platform, ActivEdge 3960 Service Aggregation Switch, ActivEdge 5150 Service Aggregation Switch and ActivEdge 3911 Service Delivery Switch, all managed via elements from Ciena’s leading-edge network management software to provide the network backbone, “middle mile” service architecture and cellular backhaul infrastructure. Telamon has been a valued and trusted Solution Provider partner in Ciena’s BizConnect global partner program since 1996.
“Together with Telamon, we’re building a high-speed packet optical network that will spur economic growth by improving Internet access for the Navajo Nation,” said Theresa Caragol, vice president, Global Alliances and Partners at Ciena. “As grant money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act starts to flow through, projects like the NTUA and others will provide a positive, lasting impact on America’s communities for years to come.”
