NEC Corporation (Japan) - NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) has been awarded the Gold Badge for Compliance with Requirements for its Network Operating System (NOS) software for optical transponders. With this recognition, NEC becomes the first global vendor to receive this certification in the NOS field, further strengthening its commitment to innovation and the development of open and disaggregated solutions for optical and IP networks.

The Phoenix initiative, promoted by the Telecom Infra Project (TIP), aims to create an open and disaggregated transponder architecture, enabling greater flexibility in the selection of hardware and software in the telecommunications industry. The project is led by the TIP Open Optical and Packet Transport (OOPT) group, which includes renowned telecom operators such as NTT, Telia, Telefónica, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, and MTN.

Successful Testing Proves Commercial Viability

To obtain the Gold Badge, the NEC NOS solution underwent rigorous testing conducted by telecommunications operators. MTN, one of the largest mobile operators in Africa, actively participated in validating the technology by conducting field tests on its optical network in South Africa. During the tests, 400G transmissions between transponders over multiple wavelengths were confirmed, demonstrating compatibility with existing systems and ensuring the commercial viability of the solution.

The installation and integration of the systems were carried out by NEC XON, one of the leading technology and communications integrators in Africa. Additionally, NTT Communications Corporation has already started implementing the NEC NOS software in its internal network.

Commitment to an Open Telecommunications Ecosystem

Kristian Toivo, Executive Director of TIP, highlighted the importance of the certification: "The awarding of the Gold Badge to NEC’s Phoenix network operating system underscores its strategic role for telecom operators and data centers. The solution has undergone rigorous testing and is already being commercially implemented in networks from NTT Communications in Japan, as well as from MTN and Teraco in South Africa. This milestone reinforces TIP's commitment to accelerating open and interoperable technologies."

Meanwhile, Yuichiro Wada, Director of the Innovation Center at NTT Communications Corporation, emphasized the importance of collaboration with TIP: "We are pleased to have contributed to the Gold Badge certification for Phoenix. We will continue to support TIP initiatives in the development of open optical and IP networks."

Lloyd Mphahlele, General Manager of Transport and OSS Tools at the MTN Group, also commented on the achievement: "We are proud to have participated in testing this innovative technology. Phoenix 400G connectivity represents a significant breakthrough, allowing us to expand our optical network more agilely and flexibly."

Finally, So Sato, Senior Director of NEC's Network Solutions Division, celebrated the distinction: "We are excited to be the first vendor to receive the Gold Badge in the NOS area for optical transponders. This recognition reflects our commitment to developing open solutions and collaborating with telecom operators."

With this achievement, NEC reaffirms its commitment to driving innovation in the optical transport market, promoting more flexible, efficient, and interoperable networks.