Bellcore Partners with ADC Telecommunications for Fiber-Optic Network Management

Bellcore, the research and development arm of the Bell telecommunications group, has partnered with ADC Telecommunications to develop an element manager system for managing fiber-in-the-loop (FITL) networks. This partnership is a key milestone in Bellcore's direct business ventures with FITL vendors and is likely to be the first of several such partnerships. The system, which will be demonstrated at the National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference '95 (NFOEC), will manage ADC's Homeworx hybrid fiber coax (HFC) access network.

Key Takeaways:

• The partnership between Bellcore and ADC Telecommunications is a multimillion-dollar development effort with both companies investing less than $10 million.
• The element manager system developed by Bellcore and ADC will manage ADC's Homeworx HFC access network, which is a key component of the company's FITL offerings.
• This partnership is likely to be the first of several direct business ventures between Bellcore and FITL vendors, with Bellcore planning to form similar arrangements with switched digital video and fiber-to-the-curb vendors.
• Bellcore executive director Mike Schwartz stated that the company plans to sell its software expertise to other FITL vendors, targeting vendors like switched digital video and fiber-to-the-curb vendors.
• AT&T Network Systems is also demonstrating its DDM-2000 FiberReach Multiplexer at NFOEC '95, claiming it is the industry's first full-service access product for business and residential customers.

Statistics:

• Less than $10 million invested by Bellcore and ADC Telecommunications in the element manager system development effort.
• The industry's first full-service access product, the DDM-2000 FiberReach Multiplexer, is being demonstrated by AT&T Network Systems at NFOEC '95.

Sources:

• Greg Wortman, ADC, 612/946-3104
• Mike Schwartz, Bellcore
• Terry Romano, AT&T Network Systems, 617/574-3157
• National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference '95 (NFOEC)