Bluegrass Network, a telecommunications company serving central Kentucky, is utilizing a coherent optical solution from Ciena to deploy a new 800Gb/s network.

Formed to interconnect five local telephone companies back in the 90s, Bluegrass’s fiber-optic network ring now spans more than 400 miles, providing essential connectivity to factories, banks, medical facilities, cellular companies, and government offices in the region—as well as national hubs in Chicago and Atlanta.

Bluegrass Network map

With a desire to increase its middle-mile presence and drive more bandwidth to surrounding communities to meet growing demand, Bluegrass set out to modernize its optical network, increasing capacity to 33.6Tb/s.

“Our goal was to create a ‘connectivity superhighway’ throughout central Kentucky,” said Doug Updegraff, President and General Manager, Bluegrass Network. “Leveraging Ciena’s industry-leading WaveLogic technology, Bluegrass is one of the first network operators in the region to deploy 800Gb/s wavelengths on every route and offer Ethernet services ranging from 10Mb/s to 400GE.”

“The new network enables our rural telephone companies to provide their member companies and residents with the highest speeds and reliability, contributing to a better quality of life for remote work, telemedicine, entertainment—really anything related to today’s digital lifestyle.”

Bluegrass is a member of INDATEL, the nationwide network of independent telecommunications providers. Commenting on Bluegrass’s new network, Shiloh Vance, Director of Marketing and Member Relations at INDATEL, said: “INDATEL Services is grateful for our partnership with a connectivity provider that consistently invests in upgrading its network infrastructure. With its commitment to innovation and reliability, Bluegrass Network has crafted a robust and diverse network, serving rural America with unwavering dedication. We are proud to have such a trusted member in the INDATEL Services family, ensuring high-level service experiences for our customers and propelling connectivity forward into the future.”

Bluegrass is leveraging the following Ciena solutions in its network:

  • WaveLogic 5 Extreme for reliable 800Gb/s connectivity while reducing energy consumption and space requirements
  • 6500 ROADM for the ability to flexibly move capacity where it’s needed
  • Navigator Network Control Suite for network management and a centralized, accurate view of multi-layer infrastructure
  • Ciena Services for full turnkey services, enabling successful deployment and fast turnup of the network

For more information about Bluegrass Network, visit https://bluegrassnetwork.com/