Foundry Networks (News - Alert) announced that Kintetsu Cable Network (KCN), a cable television and broadband Internet service provider in Nara region of Japan and part of the worldwide Kintetsu Group, is using the BigIron RX backbone switches to power its production network and deliver services to households and businesses throughout the area.

 

The Japanese service provider used Foundry’s FastIron Edge X Series to construct its Metro Ring and then launched a broadband service using fiber-optics throughout the metro area. According to Foundry, the installation of BigIron RX backbone switches will reinforce the existing Metro Ring in order to ensure optimal service quality and efficiently increase capacity.

 

Comprised of the BigIron RX-4 and FastIron Edge X Series 424-HF switches, the 10 gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) Metro Ring, was installed as KCN’s core network to link together the main connection points. Foundry officials explain that customer connection points are connected to the GbE Metro Ring, which in turn is linked to switches installed at main connection points. The BigIron RX-4 switches and FastIron Edge X Series switches are already operational.

 

Masaru Arimoto, Communication System Section, Communication Technology Department, Technology Division for KCN stated that Foundry was chosen to deliver their triple-play services because of their high-performance capabilities and extremely resilient Metro Ring Protocol technology.

 

Before implementing Foundry’s solution, KCN often experienced service downtime following unexpected technical difficulties where cable connections served a large area or service interruptions following maintenance work. Foundry products prevent such problems as they are equipped with MRP. Arimoto observed that since the launch of their service, they have not had one incident where a service suspension occurred from cable disconnections.

 

KCN is also able to achieve high performance through scaling the hardware by using Foundry's advanced features and flexibility. The company claims that the effective speed offered to end users reach up to 600Mbps. According to Arimoto, other company's products could be considerably slower than 600Mbps, which is not the case with Foundry solution. KCN refused to compromise on the use of fiber-optic cables since many of their users demand fast network connections.

 

KCN is currently weighing the possibility of upgrading its Metro Loop to 10GbE as the number of its users rises. Foundry officials point out that their products enable a cost-effective scalability option in such cases, as all that needs to be done is to add another module to upgrade to 10GbE.

“KCN’s selection of Foundry switches for performance and reliability sensitive metro services demonstrates our proven capabilities in the service provider market,” said Ahmed Abdelhalim, director of product management and marketing for Foundry's High-End and Service Providers Systems Business Unit.