Telstra Extends Global PEN Platform into the Optical Layer to Address Growing High-Bandwidth Needs

CHICAGO, May 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Telstra today announced it has extended its new global Software Defined Networking (SDN) Platform into the optical layer, enabling high-bandwidth provisioning up to 100G and automated fault restoration across its global Points of Presence (PoPs).

Jim Clarke, Telstra's Director of Marketing, Product and Pricing - International, said the extension of SDN and Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV) capabilities into Layer 1 followed the announcement last month that Telstra had added nine Telstra PEN PoPs to Pacnet's existing footprint of sixteen PoPs across Asia, creating a globally connected on-demand networking Platform.

"Extending our global PEN platform into the optical layer is the natural next step in our SDN strategy and by providing this infrastructure on demand, we're able to significantly shorten the provisioning cycle times and better meet our customers' growing high-bandwidth needs.

"This is an exciting milestone in Telstra's SDN journey and by leveraging our high quality infrastructure assets and Pacnet's leadership in early adoption of SDN technology, we will continue to innovate and deliver cost-efficient virtualised network resources to our customers," Mr Clarke said.

According to Gartner^[1], by the end of 2016, more than 10,000 enterprises worldwide will have deployed SDN technology in their networks, compared to less than 1,000 as of September 2014.

"We believe it's time for global networks to evolve. The applications of tomorrow require a different kind of network and this latest enhancement to the PEN Platform means we now have the unique capability to provide customers with on-demand provisioning of their network services up to 100G, whenever they want it and wherever they are based.

"Furthermore, Telstra plans to extend virtualisation to its suite of Managed Services offerings which means we can now, more than ever, deliver the choice and flexibility our customers require, in an age of bandwidth hungry applications, fuelled by distributed computing, big data and mobility," Mr Clarke concluded.

The PEN Platform is built on Telstra's global network and the service is available globally in 25 PEN Points of Presence across eight countries - including Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, the US and the UK. Additional connectivity options into public Cloud services to bridge hybrid Cloud deployments are available too.

^[1]Gartner, Beyond the Hype: SDN delivers real-world benefits in mainstream enterprises, Andrew Learner, October 2014.

About Telstra  

Telstra is a leading Australia-based tier one telecommunications and information services company offering a full range of communications services. Our international operations are headquartered in Hong Kong where we provide wholesale and enterprise customers with a full breadth of holistic and end-to-end solutions across data, voice, satellite and managed network services. Through our strategic investments over the years and the recent acquisition of Pacnet in Asia, we now have the largest privately owned subsea cable network in Asia Pacific, with licences throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas and we facilitate access to more than 2,000 Points of Presence (PoPs) in 230 countries and territories.

Media Reference: 079/2015

SOURCE Telstra