The packet-optical networking vendor Coriant says its technology is part of a new software-defined networking (SDN) deployment by PacketFabric.

PacketFabric worked with Mox Networks for the dark fiber in its new network and deployed the Coriant Groove G30 data center interconnect (DCI) platform.

“A critical component underpinning the functionality of the PacketFabric platform is access to massive amounts of underlying optical transport capacity,” said PacketFabric CTO Richard Steenbergen, in a statement.

The company chose Coriant’s DWDM infrastructure for its scalability, density, and power efficiency, as well as its SDN capabilities. The Coriant Groove G30 DCI platform delivers 3.2 Tb/s of capacity throughput.

PacketFabric’s parent company — NantWorks — is using the greenfield SDN network to conduct medical research, including a project to cure cancer. But the networking subsidiary is also selling network connectivity to third-party customers.

Its SDN-based network in North America delivers on-demand connectivity across its private backbone. Customers can procure network services in real time while reaching many hundreds of destinations without the need to deploy and manage infrastructure, or rely on the public internet.

In addition to using Coriant, PacketFabric chose Juniper’s QFX10000 line of switches, which the company chose largely for their programmability.