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§ Private Profile · Spokane Valley, WA, USA
World Wide Packets is a technology company.
World Wide Packets develops and supplies high-speed networking products, specializing in Ethernet broadband Fiber to the Subscriber connectivity. The company’s core offerings enable telecommunications and cable service providers to deliver robust, high-bandwidth Ethernet services directly to their end-users. Their technical approach centers on extending enterprise-grade Ethernet capabilities for residential, business, and governmental applications.
The company was founded in 2000 by Bernard Daines, a recognized figure in computer networking. Daines, an early pioneer in Ethernet technology who previously founded and sold Grand Junction Networks to Cisco and Packet Engines to Alcatel, leveraged his extensive expertise to address the growing demand for scalable, high-speed broadband infrastructure, particularly in delivering fiber optic connectivity to the last mile.
World Wide Packets’ products serve telecommunications companies, cable television concerns, and various government entities seeking to upgrade their network capabilities. The company’s vision is to be a foundational provider in the expanding carrier Ethernet market, facilitating the deployment of advanced, future-proof broadband networks that support ever-increasing data demands for subscribers.
World Wide Packets has raised $59.0M across 4 funding rounds.
World Wide Packets has raised $59.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
World Wide Packets has raised $59.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $8.0M Series U in May 2007.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2007 | $8M Series U | — | Madrona Venture Group | Announced |
| Dec 1, 2005 | $26M Series D | — | Madrona Venture Group | Announced |
| Mar 1, 2004 | $9M Series C | — | Madrona Venture Group | Announced |
| Jan 1, 2004 | $16M Series C | — | Madrona Venture Group | Announced |
World Wide Packets was a technology company that developed Ethernet networking equipment and software, providing complete solutions for broadband fiber deployments, particularly Ethernet broadband Fiber to the Subscriber (FTTS) connectivity.[1][2] It served telecommunications providers and broadband operators by enabling cost-competitive delivery of integrated voice, video, and data services to business and residential subscribers through its LightningEdge offering.[1][2] The company solved key challenges in scaling high-speed fiber access networks with standards-based equipment, achieving significant growth before its acquisition by Ciena in March 2008 for approximately $300 million in cash and stock.[1][2][5]
Founded in 2000 in Spokane Valley, Washington, World Wide Packets raised $104 million in venture funding and filed 41 patents related to networking technologies like packet tunnels and protocols.[1] Its acquisition marked one of the largest venture-backed communications equipment deals in recent years at the time, validating its momentum in the broadband infrastructure market.[2]
World Wide Packets was founded in 2000 by Bernard Daines, a computer networking expert, in Spokane Valley, Washington, at 115 North Sullivan Road.[1][3] Daines, recognized as a "guru" in the field, established the company to pioneer Ethernet-based solutions for fiber-to-the-subscriber broadband connectivity, addressing the need for efficient, scalable access networks amid rising demand for triple-play services (voice, video, data).[2][3]
Early traction built on its innovative LightningEdge platform, attracting venture backing from firms like Azure Capital Partners, culminating in $104 million raised.[1][2] A pivotal moment came in March 2008 when Ciena acquired the company for $200 million cash, 3.4 million shares (worth ~$90 million), and assumption of $15 million debt—totaling around $300 million—allowing it to integrate into a larger networking powerhouse while committing to maintain operations in Spokane Valley.[2][3][5]
World Wide Packets stood out in the telecom equipment space through:
World Wide Packets rode the early 2000s broadband fiber access boom, capitalizing on surging demand for high-speed internet, video streaming, and converged services as telcos upgraded from legacy copper to fiber optics.[1][2] Its timing was ideal amid the post-dot-com recovery, when Ethernet emerged as a cost-effective alternative to proprietary protocols like ATM or SONET for FTTS, influencing the shift toward carrier Ethernet standards.[1][2]
Market forces favoring scalable, standards-based gear propelled its success, helping broadband providers compete with cable operators. Post-acquisition, its technology bolstered Ciena's portfolio in adaptive, high-bandwidth networks, contributing to the ecosystem's evolution toward 10G+ fiber access that underpins today's streaming and cloud eras.[5][6] It exemplified how regional innovators could drive national telecom infrastructure advancements.
World Wide Packets' legacy endures through Ciena, where its Ethernet innovations fuel ongoing expansions in high-speed connectivity amid exploding bandwidth needs from AI, 5G, and edge computing.[6] As fiber deepens globally, expect its patented tech to influence next-gen deployments, with Ciena leveraging it for software-defined networking and multi-terabit capacities.
Its story highlights timeless startup virtues—technical pioneering and strategic exits—shaping how niche hardware firms scale in commoditizing markets, tying back to its roots as a Spokane Valley trailblazer in fiber broadband solutions.[3]
World Wide Packets has raised $59.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
World Wide Packets's investors include Madrona Ventures.