NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- To continue to meet rapidly growing network demand, Verizon has expanded its 100G network in the U.S. and Europe this year, with 20,921 additional kilometers (13,000 miles) in the U.S. and 2,600 kilometers (1,616 miles) in Europe.

"Expanding 100G technology on our high-performance U.S. and European networks means Verizon is able to successfully meet traffic demand while increasing efficiency and capacity," said Kyle Malady, senior vice president of global network operations and engineering for Verizon. "Increased video traffic, LTE 4G growth and cloud usage are driving bandwidth demand, and 100G is critical to creating that rich end-user experience."

Verizon has deployed 100G on selected routes in the U.S., where traffic demand is highest, including Atlanta to Tampa, Kansas City to Dallas and Salt Lake City to Seattle, using the same routers and coherent optical transport equipment as on the company's first 100G routes deployed in 2011.

In Europe, Verizon expanded its 100G network with two new routes -- between London and Paris, and London and Frankfurt. These routes, along with the previously deployed Frankfurt-to-Paris 100G route, create a 100G ring on Verizon's production network that spans more than 2,600 kilometers.

In addition to increased capacity, improved performance and scalability, 100G transport allows for consolidation of transport traffic while supporting both fixed and mobile services to create a converged core network that provides the foundation for rapid service turn-up and restoration. This high-capacity, ultra-long-haul system also helps customers, such as financial institutions, move time-sensitive information more effectively among multiple business locations.

Cloud services, video and wireless traffic continue to drive the need for more capacity on Verizon's network, requiring the company to deploy larger transmission facilities to handle the additional traffic.

Verizon has been a leader with 100G technology for the past several years. In September 2011, Verizon deployed 100G (gigabits per second) technology on an ultra-long-haul optical system on the first of several routes in the U.S.  And in March 2011, Verizon deployed the first standards-based, multivendor 100 gigabit Ethernet link for an IP backbone on a portion of the company's European long-haul network, increasing capacity and performance for customers.

Beginning in November 2007, the company successfully completed the industry's first field trial of 100G optical traffic on a live system. Several 100G trials followed, each pushing the technology further along and culminating in last year's deployment of a 100G optical system on Verizon's European network between Paris and Frankfurt.

"This latest technology expansion builds on our 100G leadership position and provides the foundation to better serve our customers for years to come," said Malady.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with nearly 96 million retail customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 184,500.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon