Maryland Broadband Cooperative (MdBC), a middle-mile network provider, has selected Ciena for new transport gear to upgrade its existing 2,500 fiber mile statewide optical network.
MdBC aims to provide 400G transport services to its more than 80 members, which include telecom companies, internet service providers (ISPs), utilities, health care facilities, universities, and state and local government.

“Ciena’s optical and network management solutions afford us greater performance and reliability to improve broadband access – and thereby digital inclusion – across every county in the state,” Drew Van Dopp, President and CEO of Maryland Broadband Cooperative, said.

MdBC’s network will utilize Ciena’s 6500 T-Series Packet-Optical Platform and WaveLogic Ai coherent technology for on-demand, high-capacity 400G connectivity with adjustable programmability, allowing for improved transport efficiency and reliability.

Ciena’s Manage, Control and Plan (MCP) domain controller will provide multi-layer management for the new optical network and an existing cell site network that utilizes Ciena’s 5171 routing and switching platform.

MdBC gains maintenance capabilities and faster troubleshooting of fiber cuts thanks to Ciena’s PinPoint OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer). Ciena Services is providing implementation services to speed time to market, plus maintenance and managed services across the entire network to ensure it runs at peak performance.

“MdBC will have the network capacity required to advance digital equity in its communities for years to come. This is particularly exciting for us as a Maryland-based business,” Steve Alexander, Chief Technology Officer of Ciena, said.