Mzima Networks

The Mzima Network was a data network and Internet Protocol (IP) computer network extending across the United States, Europe and Asia. The word Mzima means “alive” in the Kiswahili language.^[1]

The network was started in California in 2001 by Mzima Corporation, N.A which acquired several companies with Internet networks. In 2005 the Mzima Network became the first all-10 Gigabit Ethernet backbone through a partnership with Force10 Networks. The Mzima IP backbone network expanded into Europe in 2006 providing connectivity for content providers, enterprise companies, and international telecommunication carriers. The fault-tolerant designed backbone network, connected Tier 1 network carriers and network providers that engage in private peering.

It incorporated the Provider Backbone Bridge Traffic Engineering (PBB-TE) standard to adapt Ethernet technology to carrier networks. PBB-TE technology was incorporated into communications networking equipment by such companies as Ciena Corporation. This Ethernet technology provided fast re-route capabilities allowing optimization of unused network capacity. Since it provided an alternative to Tier 1 service providers and multi-homed networks, the Mzima Network claimed route-optimized transit and private peering.

In January 2010 Mzima Networks announced its network assets were acquired by PacketExchange, a network service provider based in London, UK. The two companies merged customer bases and operations, and then became part of Global Telecom & Technology.

References

• Hamilton, David. "PacketExchange to Acquire Mzima's Network Assets". TheWhir. Retrieved 2010-01-18. 
• "Ciena's Carrier Ethernet Service Delivery". Ciena. Retrieved 2009. 
• "Implementation of PBB-TE". Mzima. Retrieved 2009.