Nortel enlists Juniper in optical core routing

As expected, Nortel Networks and Juniper Networks have signed a "memorandum of understanding" to jointly market, plan and implement optical core routing infrastructures for service providers.

The alliance is tantamount to an admission by Nortel that its core IP routing products - namely, the Versalar 25000 - are significantly behind schedule.

The two companies will ensure interoperability between Nortel's OPTera optical switching and transport systems and Juniper's M-series Internet core routers. The companies will also propose Nortel's Preside software platform for service provisioning and management. Juniper will benefit from Nortel's installed base of customers, the companies say.

Nortel's optical infrastructure carries 75 percent of Internet traffic in North America and 50 percent in Europe, Nortel claims, citing data from analyst firms RHK and the Yankee Group. Juniper backbone routers are currently deployed in most of the world's largest IP networks, Nortel says.

The two companies say they are in the process of finalising the alliance documentation.