This gives us significant time-to-market advantage; a higher level of integration, yielding dramatically lower power consumption; and flexibility to deliver more of the features our customers want faster. 

The FP2, our second generation of leapfrog silicon innovation, has been available on router modules since mid-2008. This removes any technological risk to our customers, as every chip required for 100G line cards has been shipped for close to one year.

Third party 100G network processors are expected to be sampled at the end of this year, at which time our competitors can only begin to integrate them into designs.

CIOL: Don't you think it is too early for the launch of 100GbE, since the market is only slowly moving towards 10 GbE cards from 1GbE?

HM: For mass market adoption of 100GigE, 2010 is certainly early indeed. Many will still continue to be on 10GbE for another one-two years. However, the interest and need for higher speed Ethernet interfaces is undeniable.

We will see early adopters introducing 100GigE in 2010 and 2011, while the trend to mass deployment of 10GigE continues. SPs are eagerly awaiting the ratification of the P802.3ba specification from the IEEE and the ensuing implementations from equipment suppliers.

Within the context of their data centre operations, including regional hub offices for video and content distribution, many operators are ready for such an interface now, and would deploy it immediately.

Tier-1 service providers and operators with significant infrastructure for data centre and regional video distribution for IPTV and managed video/content services are most likely to be the early adopters.

But given the fact that 100GigE adoption will take some time, and understanding that 10GigE has only recently become the volume interface of choice, Alcatel-Lucent introduced a higher density 10GigE interface module as well. To help service providers best meet their current needs, the company extended its industry lead in 10GigE density by offering a 10-port 10GigE interface as well.

With this new module, service providers can offer up to 100 10GigE ports within a single 7750 Service Router or 7450 Ethernet Services Switch platform (or up to 300 10GigE ports per standard telco rack).

CIOL:  Will high price of these interface cards distance people from adopting it?

HM: We believe that is unlikely. The value of higher speed interfaces, particularly when speed is combined with revenue-generating services, will be significant. By offering industry leading density in 10GigE, which will continue to be the volume interface for the near future as well as by being the first in the 100GigE interfaces market which combine transport and services, Alcatel-Lucent is well positioned to support our service provider customers in adopting the technology at their desired pace.

CIOL:  When will this be launched? What will this be priced at?

HM: Alcatel-Lucent will be the first to deliver 100GE interfaces with full support for edge services. The line cards announced will be demonstrated to customers in Q4, 2009 and become commercially available in the mid-2010 time frame.

Pricing is not being disclosed at this time. We fully expect that with the commercial availability of 100Gbps optics and the adoption ramp of 100GE technology, 100GE interfaces will rapidly evolve to pricing in line with and below 10x10GE equivalent levels.