In conjunction with a new optical switch unveiled today, Sycamore Networks is offering “capacity licensing,” allowing carriers to buy only the level of scale they need.

The new SN 9000 multiservice crossconnect, announced today, is a medium-sized version of Sycamore’s existing gear aimed at metro and regional networks with capacity needs between 80 and 320 Gb/s. It switches at the STS-1 level but can be expanded to perform 40 Gb/s of wideband switching in 10 Gb/s increments with the addition of line cards.

To satisfy carriers whose capacity needs are on the low end of the 9000’s abilities, Sycamore will allow carriers to buy licenses for the capacity they need and add to it over time. Carriers can buy licenses of 80 Gb/s, 160 Gb/s or 320 Gb/s. Software on the 9000 limits the gear’s capacity to the level specified by the license. A software upgrade allows carriers to increase their capacity without forklift upgrades, Sycamore said.

“The way the high-density ASICs work, the fabric for 320 Gb/s is all there from day one,” said Kevin Oye, vice president of systems and technology for Sycamore. “The software license enables [carriers] to access the fabric as they need it.”

The licensing offer is so far available only on the 9000. This falls between Sycamore’s 3000 product, whose 40 Gb/s capacity suits T-1 and T-3 termination, and the 1024, which offers a whopping 2.5 Tb/s. The 9000 is now shipping to its first customer, a European wireless carrier.