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Press
Release
October 6, 2003 - Jackson Energy and Wave7 Optics to Undertake the Largest
“Fiber-to-the-Premises” Network Deployment in North America
Wave7 Receives Initial Purchase Order of $15M to Deliver “Ultra
High Speed” Last Mile LinkŪ Optical Broadband Equipment Through 2004
NEW ORLEANS -- October 6, 2003 -- The Jackson Energy Authority (JEA) of Jackson,
Tennessee, an electric, gas, water, and wastewater utility company, along with
Wave7 Optics are teaming to build the largest “fiber-to-the-premises” (FTTP)
network in North America to date. Upon its anticipated completion in 2005, the
network will “pass” 31,000 homes and businesses in JEA’s electric service area.
The two companies made the announcement here at the 2003 Fiber-to-the-Home
Conference and Expo, the FTTP industry’s largest event. Wave7 Optics is
exhibiting in booth 170 at the Hilton Riverside Hotel conference center.
Wave7 is scheduled to begin delivering network equipment in December 2003 and
JEA anticipates it will initiate deployment in 1Q 2004. JEA expects to begin
connecting customers to its new service, which will include over 250 analog and
digital cable television channels, ultra high-speed (up to 500 Mbps) two-way
business and residential Internet connections, and full feature POTS and IP
telephony (as a carrier’s carrier for local CLECs), as early as the second
quarter in 2004.
“We are excited about rolling out the most advanced network anywhere in the U.S.
– and maybe the world,” said Kim Kersey, Senior Vice-President of
Telecommunications. “In addition to the exciting new video, data and telephone
services we can offer our customers, we recognize that broadband development is
critical to the continued economic growth of our region and this network will
certainly help in that regard.”
“We’ve been working with JEA for close to a year as part of the planning process
and we’re delighted to get started with the project and to build upon our
leadership position in the market,” said Tom Tighe, CEO of Wave7 Optics.
"Jackson Energy Authority and Wave7 Optics are engaging in the largest FTTP
deployment with secured financing in North America to date. Deployments of this
scale are a clear indicator that FTTP is mainstream today,” said Danny Briere,
CEO of TeleChoice, a telecom analyst firm that tracks the FTTP industry closely.
The LML provides up to 300 times more capacity than competing broadband systems,
such as DSL or cable modem, at the same or lower installation cost. Because of
the inherent high-bandwidth capabilities of fiber optics and Wave7’s unique
architectural cost advantages, Jackson Energy can provide each of their
residential customers access speeds from 64 kbps up to 100 Mbps “symmetrical”
service, unlike typical “asymmetrical” services where download speeds far exceed
“upload” speeds. Commercial customer high-speed bandwidth applications can range
up to much greater speeds, potentially to Wave 7 Optics’ 500 Mbps capability.
Furthermore, the LML uses standard data, telephone and CATV interfaces at its
customer premise devices accommodating existing home and business telephone,
television and computer systems, meaning customers do not have to buy new
equipment to get on the new network.
The LML is an IP (Internet protocol) and Ethernet standards-based advanced
optical access system that provides all traditional “carrier-grade” telephone
services (including fax), high-speed data (e.g., Internet service) and both
analog and digital video (including IP streaming video). Featuring
industry-leading privacy and security encryption techniques and industry-leading
“quality of service” mechanisms designed for business applications, the LML
overcomes the high-fiber counts, limited distance range and high “central
office” equipment costs that have stymied the growth of FTTx systems.
About Jackson Energy
Jackson Energy Authority currently provides water, wastewater, natural gas,
propane, and electricity to more than 38,000 businesses and industry in Jackson
and Madison County.
JEA is among a growing number of progressive utility companies that recognize
broadband development is critical to enhancing economic growth. The broadband
network will offer very robust bandwidth technology for all sectors of the
economy-for small and large business, prospective and existing industry,
healthcare, education and many more as they work to succeed in the "new
information economy".
Emphasizing exceptional customer service, JEA offers one-stop service for all
customers’ service needs with a live representative answering the phone in an
average of 5 seconds. JEA is also one of few utility companies in the nation to
offer service guarantees. This along with other pertinent information about
Jackson Energy Authority can be found on the web at www.jaxenergy.com.
About Wave7 Optics
Wave7 Optics, Inc. is a market leader in the fiber-to-the-home and -business (FTTX)
optical access market. The company's Last Mile LinkŪ optical access system
effectively overcomes the cost and implementation barriers that have to date
stymied the deployment of FTTX/FTTP systems.
Wave7 Optics has pioneered the first intelligent PON (passive optical network)
system, which is effectively a generation ahead of comparable PON technologies
in both cost and capability. For instance, the “OLT” (optical line terminal)
equivalent can be deployed either in the field or central office and the Last
Mile Link uses lower cost IP- (Internet Protocol) and Ethernet-standards based
components to provide a "triple play" of voice, video and very high-speed data
services to residential, business and multi-tenant or multi-dwelling building
customers. The Last Mile Link offers service providers a particular advantage
with regards to video in that it is the only platform that supports upstream RF
return signals and readily accommodates HDTV.
The company has been named a "Hot Start Up" company for 2003 by two of the
world's leading trade journals -- America's Network and Telecommunications.
For more information please contact emmanuel.vella@w7optics.com.
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