Ottawa, Canada—Tuesday, June 24, 2003 // BTI Photonic Systems, a leading developer of subsystem solutions for optical networks, today announced the introduction of its Optical Supervisory Channel (OSC) module, an optional out-of-band management channel to monitor and manage systems at remote, unstaffed sites without IP access. The OSC allows control and management traffic to be carried without a separate data network (X.25, frame-relay, Ethernet) overlay to each BTI Optical Link System.
BTI also unveiled a new name for both the company and its product line today. Signaling a new corporate focus on the design and development of optical link management systems, the formal company name is now BTI Photonic Systems. BTI’s link extension subsystem, the Optical Link System (OLS), has been renamed Netstender™ to reflect its optical network link extension capabilities.
The OSC complements the centerpiece of BTI’s link management solution, Netstender™. Delivering Plug-and-Link ease of configuration and deployment, Netstender™ is a flexible optical transport platform offering a wide variety of optical technologies to provide comprehensive optical link layer solutions.
The OSC expands the Netstender™ link view solution by enabling the management network to monitor the performance of every node and detect failures at any point on the link. With the addition of the OSC, third-party Ethernet/X.25/FR/ATM/modems-to-optical adapters are not necessary to manage the Netstender™. The OSC is an IETF standards-based (RFC 791, RFC 2328) IP implementation featuring OSPF for enhanced failure recovery and topology discovery.
"Netstender™ optical and management capabilities provide carriers with intelligent, cost effective transport solutions that generate immediate returns, and can be deployed quickly and easily to existing or new networks without disrupting current infrastructures," said Lance Laking, CEO of BTI Photonic Systems. “The addition of the OSC module will further reduce the costs associated with maintaining an optical network by offering remote management and control capabilities.”
The Netstender™ OSC combines managed services with NEBS Level-3 certified carrier-grade reliability to create a scalable communication infrastructure (automatic discovery of OSC nodes in the network). The OSC is designed with several technological differentiators:
Netstender™ simplifies network planning, integrates complex optical functions and provides a managed end-to-end solution for terminal equipment system vendors and service providers alike. Netstender™ creates a business solution for carriers and system vendors to lower research, development and manufacturing costs on non-core products. System vendors no longer need to invest time and resources to develop link management systems internally.
“With our continuing Netstender™ rollout and new branding direction, BTI Photonic Systems is well placed to strengthen our leadership position within the Metro Regional space,” continued Laking. “A link management system like the Netstender™ offers carriers an immediate opportunity to economically extend their networks and optimize link performance.”
BTI Photonic Systems Inc. (www.btiphotonics.com), develops and manufactures innovative solutions for extending optical networks and enhancing their performance. Unique in the industry, BTI’s Netstender™ family of plug-and-link platforms offer seamless integration and flexible configuration of amplification and signal conditioning functions within a cost effective, fully managed link system. The Netstender™ is very cost efficient and drops into existing or new networks to offer simplified network planning and rapid deployment. Founded in 2000 as BTI Photonics Inc., the company is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and has offices in Canada and the United States. BTI's venture capital investors include: BCE Capital, Kodiak Venture Partners, Lucent Venture Partners, Primaxis Technology Ventures, Purple Angel, and VenGrowth.
