Multinet chooses IP Infusion’s OcNOS® for open optical and packet transport IP network upgrade

• Multinet Chooses IP Infusion’s OcNOS® for World’s Largest Open Optical and Packet Transport Nationwide IP Network Upgrade
• OcNOS provides powerful disaggregation features to scale network capacity with Telecom Infra Project (TIP) Cassini Solution

SANTA CLARA, California – IP Infusion, a leading provider of open network software and solutions for wireline and mobile network operators, today announced that Multinet, Pakistan’s premier information and communications solution provider, selected IP Infusion’s OcNOS® networking operating system in its nationwide IP upgrade to 3.2 Tbps. This project, based on solutions developed by Telecom Infra Project (TIP), is the largest Open Optical and Packet Transport (OOPT) project to date. Multinet will be upgrading its transport network that spans the entire country covering more than 120 cities, across more than 14,000 kilometers, and supporting more than 150 million people in the region.  

Multinet’s expansive upgrade incorporates Cassini, TIP’s disaggregated coherent switch and open packet transponder built by Edgecore Networks, and IP Infusion’s OcNOS, the industry’s first full-featured network OS for white box disaggregated network solutions that provides the scalable transition from traditional networks to open networks. Greatly expanding capacity, this long-haul network infrastructure deployment upgrades the network to 3.2 Tbps capacity using TIP Open Optical solutions which have been designed to provide better connectivity around the world. Multinet’s long-haul network infrastructure deployment includes additional TIP Open Optical ecosystem partners SmartOptics along with local System Integrator partner in Pakistan, STARCOM Technologies (Pvt) Limited.

“IP Infusion’s OcNOS was the clear choice to future-proof our network,” said Adnan Zaidi, Chief Operating Officer of Multinet. “IP Infusion’s highly rated disaggregated architecture, open and complete transparency on all network element requirements, competitive pricing and simplified licensing are integral to advancing connectivity solutions across Pakistan. Being the world’s first Open Optical Framework deployment of this scale, I am proud to bring this venture home. The network upgrade will be of national significance as this will not only serve the exponential growth in the capacity demand but will also expand network access to new urban, semi urban and rural areas.” 

“The Telecom Infra Project brings together a diverse group with a common goal of working together to identify, design, and deploy new technologies that can help to address the challenges facing the telecom industry,” said David Hutton, Chief Engineer for Telecom Infra Project. “The goal of TIP is to accelerate the development and deployment of new telecommunications infrastructure, with a focus on technologies that can help to increase the speed, capacity, and affordability of Internet access, especially in underserved and emerging markets such as Pakistan. This is the largest Open Optical and Packet Transport project to date, and would not be possible without the cooperation of these market leading vendors.”

“We are proud to support the award-winning Multinet in its goal to expand scalable and secure digital technologies with our partners Edgecore, SmartOptics, STARCOM and TIP,” said Atsushi Ogata, CEO and President of IP Infusion. “IP Infusion is committed to furthering the widespread adoption of disaggregated solutions that provide flexibility, fast convergence, and ease of configuration.”

“With Cassini – a high capacity open optical packet transponder utilizing coherent technology — Edgecore Networks and IP Infusion have developed a solution that allows service providers to connect network devices across large distances in a cost effective and reliable manner. We are confident that Multinet will see great results in their network upgrade using the Cassini technology, a field-tested and mature disaggregated coherent solutions platform,” said Heimdall Siao, President at Edgecore Networks.

“Multinet’s vision incorporates innovation through next-generation Open Networking solutions, working with our partners,” said Asghar Ali, CEO of STARCOM Technologies Pvt Ltd, Pakistan. “As a regional Systems Integrator and solution provider for the Telco, Managed Network Operator and Enterprise markets, we design Open Networking solutions with vendors such as IP Infusion, Edgecore, SmartOptics and more that can integrate with existing networks to make big visions such as Multinet’s a reality.”

Cassini was developed by TIP’s Open Optical & Packet Transport (OOPT) Project Group and is the industry’s first modular open packet transponder, offering a flexible mix of 100 Gigabit Ethernet packet switching ports and 100/200 Gbps coherent optical interfaces for data center interconnect and service provider backhaul use cases. This platform supports Multinet’s effort to cost-effectively roll out high-speed network services at scale while building vendor-neutral disaggregated connectivity networks.