Matisse Networks EtherBurst Optical Switch Delivers Lowest Total Cost of Ownership for Metro Optical Networks

Mountain View, California and Concord, Massachusetts, April 25, 2007— A new study by Network Strategy Partners (NSP) compares the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of a metro Ethernet optical transport network built using ROADMs (Reconfigurable Optical Add Drop Multiplexers) with one using Matisse Networks’ EtherBurst Optical Switch.

According to the study, “Total Cost of Ownership Analysis of Matisse Networks EtherBurst Optical Switch,” as bandwidth demand scales to 10 Gbps and beyond, the relative savings with EtherBurst continue to increase when compared against ROADM systems for metro Ethernet optical transport networks.

“Though ROADMs are conceptually well suited to accommodate high bandwidth and unpredictable traffic characteristics, current product implementations limit ROADMs to dependence on circuit-based design.” said NSP’s Michael Kennedy, managing partner and author of the study. “Matisse Networks’ EtherBurst Optical Switch overcomes these product limitations by employing optical burst switching technology to scale metro aggregation network bandwidth up to 640 Gbps.”

“The relative merit of optical burst switching has long been understood in the research community,” said Sam Mathan, chairman and CEO of Matisse Networks, “this report provides third-party validation and quantification of the significant savings the EtherBurst optical switch delivers for metro Ethernet optical transport networks.”

Three network scenarios are analyzed—Carrier Ethernet, Triple Play and a Converged Network offering both Carrier Ethernet and Triply play aggregation. The study models traffic requirements across a typical metro aggregation network, estimates Total Cost of Ownership and then identifies the sources of reduced cost.

Study Highlights

EtherBurst provides:

• 40 percent lower TCO for the optical systems in a metro aggregation network dedicated to Carrier Ethernet services;

• 48 percent lower TCO for a metro aggregation network dedicated to Triple Play service delivery; and

• 50 percent lower TCO when delivering both Carrier Ethernet and Triple Play

CapEx savings are primarily due to optical burst switching’s more efficient utilization of optical transport capacity for packet services. With EtherBurst, relative utilization is further increased by finer-grain QoS and more efficient handling of multicast traffic. OpEx reduction is due to the relative ease of provisioning, managing and maintaining packet optical transport with EtherBurst, a byproduct of the elimination of optical circuits.
Copies of the report are available by clicking here.

About Matisse Networks
Matisse Networks is named after Henri Matisse, the famous painter known as the “Master of Color”. Like the painter, Matisse Networks is mastering the colors of light to pioneer the field of optical burst switching. Matisse Networks’ EtherBurst is the industry’s first optical burst switch, purpose-built for scaling metro aggregation networks from 10 to 640 Gbps. Recognized as a Network World “Top 10 Startups to Watch”, a “Red Herring 100 Private Company”, and Telecommunications Magazine’s “Product of the Month”, additional information on Matisse Networks is available at http://www.matissenetworks.com.

EtherBurst is a trademark of Matisse Networks, Inc.

About Network Strategy Partners
Network Strategy Partners, LLC (NSP) — management consultants to the networking industry — helps equipment vendors, service providers, and enterprises around the globe make strategic decisions, mitigate risk and affect change through custom consulting engagements. NSP’s consulting includes business case and ROI analysis, go-to-market strategies, development of new service offers, pricing and bundling as well as infrastructure consulting. NSP’s consultants are respected thought-leaders in the networking industry and influence its direction though confidential engagements for industry leaders and through public appearances, whitepapers, and trade magazine articles. Contact NSP at www.nspllc.com.