May 23, 2014 – To help utilities handle the increasing pressure of providing reliable communications for critical services, GE and Optelian have announced a supply agreement to deliver optical networking solutions for utilities.

“The alignment of Optelian solutions with GE’s multiplexers, switches and routers is a critical step forward to help our customers build next-generation networks,” said Tom Mueller, senior product manager, optical networks, GE Digital Energy business. “Until now, critical utility applications have remained isolated on our customers’ private networks to better protect the integrity and quality of these services. With Optelian, we now can improve our capabilities to deliver bandwidth intensive applications like video surveillance and storage area networks over the existing fiber network without impacting critical operational traffic.”

By combining GE’s SONET, SDH and PDH multiplexers with Optelian Intuitive Packet Optical Networking and Optelian Flex Architecture, customers can build communication networks that allow them to introduce additional information technology applications while protecting critical operational traffic and ensuring superior service quality, said the companies.

According to GE, through pairing Optelian solutions with its JungleMUX and TN1U/Ue multiplexers, utilities facing capacity constraints on existing fiber segments or requiring communications over extended fiber cable lengths now have a cost-effective solution.

“Through the Optelian Flex Architecture, utilities can grow their networks and maintain critical separation of operational and information technologies, supporting their converged business needs without compromising on network performance. It’s a strong win-win,” added David Weymouth, president and CEO, Optelian.