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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Optical networking Telecommunications equipment |
| Founded | September 1998 |
| Founders | Fahri Diner Ian Haxell Xiang-Dong Cao Robert Ade Rick Aversano |
| Defunct | 2002 |
| Headquarters | , United States |
| Products | Ultra-long-haul DWDM photonic transport systems |
| Parent | Nortel Networks (from January 2000) |
Qtera Corporation was an American telecommunications equipment company headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. Founded in 1998, it developed ultra-long-haul photonic transport systems for fiber-optic communication using dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) networks. In January 2000, Nortel Networks acquired the company for up to $3.25 billion in stock. Qtera's systems were later integrated into Nortel's OPTera Long Haul 4000 platform.
History
[edit]Founding and early financing
[edit]Qtera was founded in September 1998 in Boca Raton during a period of significant investment in optical networking and high-capacity fiber-optic infrastructure.[1][2] The company consisted of a team of engineers, scientists and executives. The founding team was Fahri Diner (president and CEO), Ian Haxell (chief engineer), Xiang-Dong Cao (chief scientist), Robert Ade and Rick Aversano.[3][4] The company was initially named NextNet Technologies but changed its name to Qtera Corporation later in 1998.[5]
Qtera raised capital in multiple funding rounds. By April 1999 the company had raised a total of approximately $43 million from investors including Battery Ventures, the Mayfield Fund, Oak Investment Partners, VantagePoint Venture Partners, and CommVest.[1][6] By late 1999 the company employed around 170 people,[4] mostly in Boca Raton, with a smaller office in Richardson, Texas.[7]
Product development
[edit]In April 1999, while still an independent company, Qtera publicly outlined its product roadmap, proposing a router-friendly optical transport architecture designed to eliminate costly optical-electrical-optical regenerators and support transparent long-haul networks.[8]
During 1999 Qtera's technology was already in carrier field trials, including with Qwest Communications. The company was recognized in contemporary coverage as one of the emerging long-haul system vendors alongside Corvis and Sycamore Networks.[2][9]
Technology
[edit]Ultra-long-haul transmission
[edit]At the time, conventional dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) systems typically required full optical-electrical-optical regeneration every 400 to 500 kilometers (250 to 310 mi).[10] Qtera developed ultra-long-haul photonic transport systems designed to transmit optical signals over distances of up to 4,000 kilometers (2,500 mi) without regeneration.[11] Demonstrated results included a 2,410-kilometer (1,500 mi) field trial with Qwest and a laboratory transmission of 3,600 kilometers (2,200 mi). This was achieved through a combination of distributed Raman amplification, erbium-doped fiber amplification, and second-generation forward error correction (FEC).[12]
Its proprietary Return-to-Zero (RZ) transmission and receiving technology allowed pulses to travel longer distances.[10][13]
Raman amplification and field trials
[edit]Qtera's in-line Raman amplification used the transmission fiber itself to provide additional gain and thus improved span lengths between amplifiers.[10]
In late 1999 Qtera conducted a successful field trial with Qwest Communications International that transmitted signals over 2,410 kilometers (1,500 mi) without regeneration over their system. The results were presented as a post-deadline paper at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC) March 2000.[14]
Qtera demonstrated one of the earliest successful uses of in-line/distributed Raman amplification in a high-capacity terrestrial DWDM system over long distances. At the Optical Fiber Communication Conference in 2000, Qtera's CEO stated that its Raman amplification accomplishments were "firsts."[15][13]
Laboratory demonstrations
[edit]Qtera also demonstrated laboratory transmission of 52 × 12.3 Gbit/s over 3,600 kilometers (2,200 mi) of TrueWave fiber with 100 kilometers (62 mi) amplifier spans and presented it at the Optical Amplifiers and Their Applications (OAA) conference in July 2000.[12]
Network architecture
[edit]The optical platform was designed to interface directly with core routers, reducing reliance on intermediate electronic SONET/SDH add-drop multiplexers and digital cross-connects.[16][10] By eliminating the need for frequent electrical regeneration and intermediate electronic add-drop stages, the architecture lowered both the number of regenerators required and the overall equipment cost for a given transmission distance. It also required less space and power and lowered operating expenses. Network capacity could be expanded by adding equipment only at the endpoints rather than along the entire route.[16][10]
Acquisition by Nortel
[edit]In December 1999 Nortel Networks announced it would acquire Qtera for up to $3.25 billion in stock. The deal was completed in January 2000.[17][18][16][19][7][20] Contemporary coverage described the purchase as strategically important for Nortel in the rapidly growing optical networking market and noted that Cisco Systems had also shown interest.[18][16]
Legal dispute
[edit]A legal dispute arose shortly after the acquisition announcement when Siemens Information and Communication Networks sued two of the founders who had previously worked at Siemens (Fahri Diner and Xiang-Dong Cao), alleging misappropriation of intellectual property.[5] The suit was later settled.[21]
Later developments
[edit]Integration into Nortel systems
[edit]In March 2000, shortly after the acquisition closed, Qtera announced a joint field trial with GTE Internetworking (later Genuity) of its ultra-long-haul equipment on a route between Atlanta and Washington, D.C., planned to carry multiple 10 Gbit/s channels over 1,550 kilometers (960 mi) without regeneration and with optical add/drop capability.[22][11]
In June 2000 Nortel announced it would re-enter the submarine cable systems market, citing Qtera's long-haul optical technology as a provider for terrestrial and festooning applications.[23]
After the acquisition Qtera's systems were integrated into Nortel's OPTera Long Haul 4000 platform and used as the terrestrial portion of the Southern Cross Cable system.[24][25]
Closure of the Boca Raton facility
[edit]In June 2001, amid a sharp downturn in the telecommunications equipment market, Nortel disclosed that certain post-acquisition performance targets tied to the Qtera transaction had not been met, so the contingent portion of the purchase consideration was not paid.[25]
In 2002 Nortel closed the former Qtera facility in Boca Raton.[26] Elements of the ultra-long-haul technology continued in Nortel's optical portfolio as part of the OPTera Long Haul 4000 platform.[25] In 2010 Ciena acquired substantially all of Nortel's optical networking and carrier Ethernet businesses.[27][28][29]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 L.A. Lorek (April 24, 1999). "Boca high tech startup gets $43M infusion". South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
- 1 2 Brett Nelson (November 29, 1999). "Young guns..." Forbes.
- ↑ Stephen Pounds (December 10, 1999). "Brains behind billion-dollar deal". The Palm Beach Post.
- 1 2 Leslie Hillman (December 16, 1999). "Fiber-optics expertise puts Qtera in spotlight". Sun-Sentinel.
- 1 2 Bolaji Ojo (December 29, 1999). "Siemens comm unit sues Qtera founders". EE Times.
- ↑ L A Lorek (January 21, 2000). "Venture into Qtera paid handsome dividend". South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
- 1 2 Craig Matsumoto (December 15, 1999). "Nortel acquires optical specialist Qtera". EE Times.
- ↑ Erik Kreifeldt (April 29, 1999). "Qtera Proposes Router-Friendly Optical Transport". Fiber Optics Online.
- ↑ "Nortel may connect with Qtera". Forbes. December 9, 1999.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Scott Clavenna (October 9, 2000). "The Ultimate Backbone". Light Reading.
- 1 2 "GTE Internetworking To Trial Nationwide Purely Photonic Network With Ultra-Long-Haul Equipment From Qtera Corporation". Compound Semiconductor. PR Newswire. March 8, 2000.
- 1 2 Haxell, I.; Ding, M.; Akhtar, A.; Wang, H.; Farrugia, P (July 9, 2000). 52×12.3 Gbit/s DWDM transmission over 3600km of TrueWave fiber with 100km amplifier spans. Optical Amplifiers and Their Applications (OAA 2000), Paper OTuC7. Optica Publishing Group (published 2000).
- 1 2 Erik Kreifeldt (March 9, 2000). "OFC 2000: Optical Switching Systems Stir Up Wavelength Management Debate". Photonics Online.
- ↑ Haxell, Ian; Robinson, Niall; Akhtar, Adnan; Ding, Ming; Haigh, Ron (March 7, 2000). 2410km All-Optical Network Field Trial with 10Gbit/s DWDM Transmission. Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC 2000), Postdeadline Paper PD41. Optica Publishing Group (published 2000).
- ↑ Jeff Hecht (May 1, 2000). "Conference Review: OFC post-deadline work adds speed, distance, and flexibility". Laser Focus World.
- 1 2 3 4 Erik Kreifeldt (December 22, 1999). "Nortel Brings 'Disruptive' Long-Haul Optical Technology into the Fold". Fiber Optics Online.
- ↑ Mark Heinzl (December 15, 1999). "Nortel Networks Agrees to Buy Start-Up Qtera for $3.2 Billion". The Wall Street Journal.
- 1 2 "Nortel Agrees to Buy Qtera in Bid to Outflank Rivals". Los Angeles Times. December 16, 1999.
- ↑ Carolyn Koo (December 15, 1999). "Nortel to Buy Qtera for Up to $3.25 Billion in Stock". The Street.
- ↑ "Nortel buying Qtera for $3.25 billion US". CBC News. December 15, 1999.
- ↑ Stephen Pounds (December 22, 2001). "Siemens, Nortel Settle Qtera suit". The Palm Beach Post.
- ↑ Evan Bass (December 5, 2000). "Genuity Completes All-Optical Network Segment". Fiber Optics Online.
- ↑ "Nortel Back in the Submarine Swim". Wired. June 6, 2000.
- ↑ "Nortel to build U.S. terrestrial optical network for Southern Cross Cables". Lightwave Online. August 8, 2001.
- 1 2 3 Marguerite Reardon (August 19, 2002). "Nortel to Cut Ultra Long Haul?". Light Reading.
- ↑ Christine Winter (March 29, 2002). "Nortel closing office in Boca". South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
- ↑ James Bagnall (June 24, 2016). "How Ciena and its Nortel engineers won optical". Ottawa Citizen.
- ↑ Peter MacKinnon; Peter Chapman; Hussein T. Mouftah (2014). "Nortel Technology Lens" (PDF). University of Ottawa Telfer School of Management.
- ↑ "Nortel Completes Sale of Optical Networking and Carrier Ethernet Business to Ciena". Lexpert Business of Law. June 1, 2010.
Category:Synchronous optical networking Category:Photonics Category:Multiplexing Category:Fiber optics Category:Fiber-optic communications Category:Companies based in Boca Raton, Florida Category:Telecommunications equipment vendors Category:Companies established in 1998 Category:2000 mergers and acquisitions Category:Nortel