History 2001: Giantloop, Optical Storage Networking Start-Up

Start-up Giantloop Network has just announced an original new business activity: Optical Storage Networking (OSN), probably the first optical networking service designed precisely for storage applications.

It enables large enterprises or SSPs to aggregate various protocols like Escon/Ficon, FC, Ethernet or IP in a single fiber optic network.

“Our vision is that the GiantLoop network will act as a ‘storage highway’ between large companies and their global storage assets – wherever they reside,” said CEO Mark Ward.

Unlike firms that focus on physical network construction and/or fiber wholesaling, the company does not itself lay fiber in the ground but leases fiber-optic cable installed by firms like Metromedia Fiber Network and Fiber Technologies, which it then “lights” and operates as managed network solutions for its customers.

Giantloop, based in Waltham, MA, is a privately-held company that has secured $40 million in funding, including a huge chunk from Roger Marino, one of the 3 founders (and the “M”) of EMC.

Not surprisingly, Giantloop’s founders all hail from EMC, whether it’s chairman and CEO Harry Dixon, president and COO Mark Ward, EVP Chris Riley or managing director Randy Seidl.

Formed in April 2000, the company now boasts nearly 300 employees, and is currently recruiting at a rate of 10 to 15 per week.

In the same general technology, there’s another start-up to watch: Akara, based in Ottawa, Canada, but also with offices in Waltham. The firm is offering what it calls an “optical utility services platform,” although it doesn’t place the emphasis specifically on storage. This has not prevented SSP StorageNetworks, however, from working with Akara.

Several of the new concern’s founders came from Cambrian Systems (later acquired by Nortel Networks), and its VP sales and services, Richard Dowling, was director of xSP marketing at EMC. To date, the company has raised $17 million in venture capital..

This article is an abstract of news published on issue 156 on January 2001 from the former paper version of Computer Data Storage Newsletter.

Note: GiantLoop has raised a cumulative total of $160 million in the 10 months since its inception but does not exist anymore.