Editing Tellabs

{{Short description|American technology company}}
{{Lead too short|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Tellabs
| logo = Tellabs logo.svg
| type = [[Private company|Private]]
| genre = 
| foundation = 1974<ref name="bberg">{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=35237 |title=Company Overview of Tellabs Inc. |publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]] |access-date=May 11, 2018}}</ref>
| founder = Michael Birck
| location_city = [[Carrollton, Texas]]
| location_country = United States
| location = 
| origins = 
| key_people = CEO: Rich Schroder, President/CEO
| area_served = 
| industry = [[Telecommunications equipment]]
| products = Telecommunications equipment, [[local area network]] & [[network management]]
| services = 
| revenue = 
| operating_income = 
| net_income = 
| num_employees = 
| parent = 
| divisions = 
| subsid = Coherent Communications Systems Corp.<br>Martis Oy
| owner = Marlin Equity Partners
| homepage = {{url|tellabs.com}}
| dissolved = 
| footnotes = 
}}

'''Tellabs, Inc.''' is a global network technology company that provides networking and communications solutions to both private and governmental agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://svnw1.tellabs.com/library/corporate/company/Tellabs_Corporate_Fact_Sheet.pdf |title=Fact sheet|website=svnw1.tellabs.com|access-date=2020-06-10}}</ref>  The company offers a range of products and services, including optical transport systems, access systems, managed access solutions, and network management software. The company was founded by [[Michael Birck]] in 1974 and is headquartered in [[Carrollton, Texas]]. It is currently owned by Marlin Equity Partners, who established an independent business for its product portfolio to accelerate the development of Optical local area network (OLAN) technology. Designed for enterprise and government clients, OLAN uses fiber, which is faster, more secure, and more stable compared to traditional copper infrastructure.<ref name=":0" />

==History==

=== Early years ===
Tellabs traces its roots to a meeting in 1974<ref name="bberg"/> over a kitchen table in suburban Chicago.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldsborough |first=Bob |date=2019-09-08 |title=Chris Cooney, co-founder and worldwide sales leader for Tellabs, dies at 77 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/obituaries/ct-chris-cooney-obituary-20190908-djfnov4nafcs7ghds3cy5iss2i-story.html |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> According to company founder [[Michael Birck]], a group of six men with backgrounds in [[electrical engineering]] and sales drank coffee and brainstormed ideas for a new telecom company. Their aim was to build a company that offered products and services tailored to customer needs. After raising $110,000 in capital, they incorporated as Tellabs in the spring of 1975; the name combined the idea of telephones and laboratories. The start-up only had a one-man research department, a second-hand soldering iron picked up for $25, and an outdated oscilloscope.<ref>{{cite book |title=Twenty-Five Years of Clear Ideas: Tellabs 1975-2000 |publisher=Tellabs |date=December 1999}}</ref> In a matter of months, Tellabs began making [[echo suppressor]]s, which suppress annoying echoes on phone calls. During this time, the founding partners drew no salaries. 

The company went public in July 1980, ending the year with sales of $43.7 million. In September 1981, Tellabs introduced the industry's first [[echo canceller]], an advance over the original echo suppressors that synthesized an echo and electronically subtracted it. By 1990, Tellabs had grown to 2,000 employees at 25 locations globally and sales of $211 million.

Tellabs made several acquisitions and expanded globally in the 1980s and into the 1990s, including Coherent Communications Systems Corp. and Martis Oy in Finland. In 1991, the company took a new direction, releasing its SONET-based TITAN 5500 digital cross-connect system. These systems switched traffic from one circuit to another, connecting traffic inside and between networks.

[[Richard Notebaert]], who had led [[Ameritech]], the Midwestern [[Old AT&T|AT&T]] spin-off until it was acquired by [[SBC Communications|SBC]] in 1999, took over Tellabs as CEO in September 2000. Pundits labeled Notebaert the “$6 billion man.”<ref>{{cite news |first=Howard |last=Wolinsky |title=New CEO Notebaert to lead Tellabs' growth |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4549696.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517015659/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4549696.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-05-17 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |page=59 |date=2000-08-18 }}</ref> However, as the Chicago Sun-Times also reported, the telecom industry also collapsed. The Chicago Sun-Times reported: “Telecom went from boom to bust as venture capital dried up and customers cancelled orders for the sort of equipment made by Tellabs and its competitors, including [[Nortel Networks]] and [[Lucent Technologies]].” In 2003, following industry trends and after 28 years as a manufacturer, Tellabs sold its last plant in Illinois and outsourced its manufacturing.<ref>{{cite news |first=Howard |last=Wolinsky |title=Tellabs leaving manufacturing with plant sale // Naperville company to sell operations in Finland |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1508743.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517015743/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1508743.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-05-17 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |page=56 |date=2003-11-17 }}</ref> The company continued downsizing.

=== 2003 to present ===
In 2003, Tellabs began offering residential [[Broadband PON]] in a partnership with [[Verizon Fios|Verizon FiOS]]. Krish Prabhu, former chief operating officer of [[Alcatel-Lucent|Alcatel]] took over as CEO in February 2004. Prabhu saw opportunities as Internet usage grew demanding faster connections as well as video and better [[VoIP]] (Voice over Internet Protocol) calling.<ref>{{cite news |first=Shruti |last=Singh |title=PRABHU TACKLES TELLABS' PUZZLE; Telecom vet engineering change at gear maker |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-139610354.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517015734/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-139610354.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-05-17 |work=Crain's Chicago Business |date=2005-12-05 }}</ref> Tellabs acquired two companies in 2004. They purchased Advanced Fiber Communications (AFC), a provider of broadband access solutions with a customer base of more than 800 service providers worldwide at the time of the merger in a deal worth $1.9 billion<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lightreading.com/cable-video/tellabs-buys-afc-for-$19-billion/d/d-id/602658|title=Tellabs Buys AFC for $1.9 Billion|first=Pauline|last=Rigby |date=May 5, 2004|website=Light Reading |access-date=October 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322172410/https://www.lightreading.com/cable-video/tellabs-buys-afc-for-$19-billion/d/d-id/602658 |archive-date=March 22, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and Marconi Communications North American Access, which sold fiber-access services to regional Bell operating companies and local exchange carriers.<ref name="biz1">{{cite web |url= http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2004/01/05/daily11.html|title=Data |website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=2020-06-10}}</ref> At the time of the merger, Marconi had a customer base that included many of the world's largest telecommunications operators, managing more than 4 million lines of capacity and about 1 million deployed lines.<ref name="biz1" /> By 2007, nearly half of Tellabs' revenue came from products added since 2003.<ref>{{cite press release |title=News Release: Tellabs reports fourth-quarter revenue of $469 million |publisher=Tellabs |date=2008-01-22 |url=http://www.tellabs.com/news/2008/4q07.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123071927/http://www.tellabs.com/news/2008/4q07.pdf |archive-date=2008-01-23 }}</ref>

Prabhu also presided over more cutbacks as the telecom industry continued to struggle. In January 2008, Tellabs announced that it was cutting 225 jobs during the year. This would leave Tellabs with about 3,500 jobs, down from a peak of 9,000 during the boom in 2001. Prabhu stepped down in March 2008 for personal reasons; Birck praised him at his departure.<ref>{{cite news |first=Howard |last=Wolinsky |title=Krish did superb job'; Founder says departing CEO Prabhu not forced out |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-10166397.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517015649/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-10166397.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-05-17 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=2007-11-09 }}</ref> Tellabs internally promoted [[Rob Pullen|Robert W. Pullen]], who had 23 years of varied experience at Tellabs, to succeed Prabhu as chief executive and president effective March 1, 2008. He was the chairman of the executive board of the Telecommunications Industry Association.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tiaonline.org/about/board/index.cfm |title=Board of Directors (Officers) |work=website |publisher=Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) |access-date=2010-12-12}}</ref> In 2009 Tellabs acquired WiChorus, a San-Jose based Silicon Valley start-up with a mobile packet core platform, a decision that led to the decline of their data business.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120702/NEWS08/120709994/tellabs-ceo-rob-pullen-dies-of-cancer|title=Tellabs CEO Rob Pullen dies of cancer|date=July 2, 2012|website=Crain's Chicago Business}}</ref> After Pullen was hospitalized in June 2012 due to cancer, Dan Kelly was appointed acting CEO and president; Kelly later assumed the full offices in November 2012, following Pullen's death. Kelly had previously served as executive vice president of global products and had worked with the company for over 25 years.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tellabs-names-daniel-p-kelly-chief-executive-officer-and-president-181437641.html|title=Tellabs names Daniel P. Kelly chief executive officer and president|website=www.prnewswire.com}}</ref>

In 2013, Tellabs was acquired by Marlin Equity Partners, a global investment company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=CBR Staff |date=2013-10-22 |title=Marlin to acquire telecommunications company Tellabs for $891m |url=https://techmonitor.ai/technology/data-centre/marlin-to-acquire-telecommunications-company-tellabs-for-891m-221013 |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=Tech Monitor |language=en-US}}</ref> Marlin announced plans to establish an independent business for the Tellabs Access product portfolio, aiming to accelerate Tellabs' development of Optical local area network (OLAN) technology. Marlin announced it would target OLAN to Enterprise and Government agencies, while continuing to support and expand its Telecommunications portfolio.<ref name="tellabs.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.tellabs.com/press-releases/30/ |title=Tellabs &#124; Find Your Optical Solutions |website=www.tellabs.com |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717155815/https://www.tellabs.com/press-releases/30/ |archive-date=17 July 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Optical Transport, Metro Ethernet and Mobility business units of Tellabs were spun off into [[Coriant]], a separate company owned by Marlin Equity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2014/01/marlin-equity-partners-reshuffles-executive-deck-ahead-of-coriant-tellabs-merger.html|title=StackPath|website=www.lightwaveonline.com}}</ref> Mike Dagenais, an industry veteran who had previously served as CEO of Radisys Corporation and as president and CEO of Continuous Computing, was tapped to head Tellabs as president and CEO.<ref name="tellabs.com"/> The focus of Tellabs is now OLAN technology. OLAN uses fiber, which  is faster, more secure, and more stable in comparison to traditional copper infrastructure.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tellabs.com/optical-lan-a-critical-piece-of-a-librarys-technological-innovation/|title=Optical LAN: A Critical Piece Of A Library's Technological Innovation &#124; Tellabs}}</ref> For service providers, Tellabs Access Platforms provide Broadband access to more than 5 million homes in North America.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tellabs.com/telco-access/ |title=Tellabs &#124; Overview |website=www.tellabs.com |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318111800/https://www.tellabs.com/telco-access/ |archive-date=18 March 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>  On October 11, 2017, it was announced that Jim Norrod had been named president and CEO of Tellabs, following the retirement of Mike Dagenais.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blog.tellabs.com/blog/tellabs-welcomes-jim-norrod-as-president-and-ceo|title=Tellabs announces new President and CEO|first=Dave|last=Cunningham|website=blog.tellabs.com}}</ref>

In December 2019, Tellabs announced that Rich Schroder had been appointed president and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Schroder has held numerous positions within Tellabs and most recently served as Chief Operating Officer. Schroder is a telecom industry veteran with past experience running global multi-site organizations in Asia, Europe and across the U.S. on behalf of AFC, Marconi, RELTEC, DSC and Siemens.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tellabs Announces New Leadership {{!}} Tellabs|date=19 December 2019 |url=https://www.tellabs.com/tellabs-announces-new-leadership-to-take-next-step-in-driving-pon-growth/|access-date=2020-06-10|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Corporate==
Tellabs global corporate headquarters is located in the northwest quadrant of [[Dallas|Dallas, Texas]], in the city of [[Carrollton, Texas]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our new HQ in Carrollton Texas inspires innovation {{!}} Tellabs|date=2 June 2020 |url=https://www.tellabs.com/our-new-hq-inspires-broadband-and-olan-innovations-to-benefit-our-employees-partners-and-customers/|access-date=2020-06-10|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Hardware==
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===Optical Line Terminals===
The optical line terminal provides centralized end-to-end LAN intelligence, management and control. It also provides aggregation and distribution functions and typically resides in the main data center of a building. An OLT has two primary functions. Converting the signal used by FiOS service providers to the frequency and framing being used in the PON system and coordinating the multiplexing between the conversion devices on the optical network terminals (ONTs) located on the customers' premises.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is optical line terminal (OLT)? {{!}} Definition from TechTarget |url=https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/definition/Optical-line-terminal-OLT |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=Networking |language=en}}</ref> Tellabs Optical Line Terminals minimize the physical space required within the main data center.

===Optical Network Terminals===
Tellabs designs Optical Network Terminals, aimed for use in high-volume [[passive optical network]] (PON) commercial deployments. Tellabs Optical Network Terminals provide narrowband and broadband subscriber services over a PON platform to the IP/Ethernet end-points; all services are supported natively over a single fiber, including analog voice, VoIP, high-speed data, IP video, RF video, smart buildings apps, security, surveillance, environmental and automation for modern high-performance LANs.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Products – Tellabs |url=https://www.tellabs.com/products/}}</ref>

==Software==

===Element Management===
Tellabs Panorama PON Manager is the cornerstone of an Optical LAN end-to-end system. It provides centralized intelligence and element management across the entire LAN, from OLT to ONT and extends to subtended powered devices. Tellabs describes its PON Manager as helping define LAN resources in software and then dynamically allocate them, based on real-time requirements.<ref name="auto"/>

===Advanced Software Packages===
Tellabs Optical LAN solution is designed to improve LAN availability uptime and increase operational efficiencies and network security. Tellabs offers multiple packages: Advanced Availability Software Package builds LANs that minimize annual network downtime while lowering costs, reducing [[human error]], and improving security; Tellabs Advanced Operational Software Package improves IT efficiencies by increasing the speed of LAN configurations, monitoring, troubleshooting and MACs while once again reducing human error and network security risks; and Tellabs Advanced Security Software Package enhances physical LAN defensibility, enabling consistent protection policies that are centrally managed while continuing to reduce human error and increasing network stability.<ref name="auto"/>

==Services==
Tellabs offers three services: Professional Network Services, which it describes as providing support at all stages of the network life cycle,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tellabs.com/services/professional-services/|title=Professional Services – Tellabs}}</ref> Technical Support Services, which offers a variety of technical support agreement options to meet the specific needs of organization's network,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tellabs.com/services/technical-support/|title=Technical Support – Tellabs}}</ref> and Network Training Services, which offers a variety of network training programs to keep staff up to date to support all phases of network's life cycle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tellabs.com/services/training/|title=Training – Tellabs}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Finance links historical
| name = Tellabs
| sec_cik = 317771
}}

{{Authority control|state=expanded}}

[[Category:Companies based in Dallas]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1974]]
[[Category:1974 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:2013 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Privately held companies based in Texas]]
[[Category:Private equity portfolio companies]]
[[Category:1980s initial public offerings]]
[[Category: Companies formerly listed on the Nasdaq]]