|
Press
Release
October 3, 2005 - Largest In-Service FTTP Network in the U.S. Connects 10,000th
Customer Site. Jackson Energy Authority and Wave7 Optics Reach Milestone
in Network Ultimately Passing More than 35,000 Homes and Businesses.
LAS VEGAS - October 3, 2005 - Wave7 Optics Inc., a
leading supplier of fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) equipment for residential and
business services, and Jackson Energy Authority (JEA) of Jackson, Tennessee
today announced the 10,000th connection in JEA's rapidly growing FTTP network,
which provides triple-play services under the "EPlus Broadband" brand name. The
companies made the announcement here at the FTTH Conference, where Wave7 Optics
are exhibiting their new Trident7 universal PON platform and industry-leading
Last Mile Link system thru October 6th in booth 624.
After announcing the contract in October 2003, the two
companies began network construction in early 2004 and JEA connected its first
customers in May 2004 - meaning that JEA reached its goal of 10,000 customers in
only 16 months. JEA continues to expand the network in the town of Jackson and
throughout surrounding areas in Madison County and expects to pass more than
35,000 homes in the greater Jackson area sometime in 2007.
"We were one of the first utilities or municipalities in
the U.S. to undertake such a project and we are proud of our pioneering role,"
said Kim Kersey, SVP of Telecommunications for JEA. "The network is meeting the
expectations we had for it in terms of customer interest and satisfaction, our
business plan and as a boost for economic development in the region."
Current residential services feature 270 all-digital
channels of cable television, including 12 HDTV channels, up to four "VoIP"
telephone lines and symmetrical high-speed data bandwidth rates ranging from 512
kbps to 100 Mbps per customer.
"We've found that a leading factor of our success has
been our video offerings and Wave7's expertise in all aspects of video
propagation and transmission, whether traditional RF or IPTV, has helped
differentiate us from the incumbent cable MSO, satisfy our customers and achieve
our business goals," continued Kersey.
"JEA has been a showcase for the FTTP industry and we're
pleased to have played a leading role in it," said Tom Tighe, CEO of Wave7
Optics. "We're excited about JEA's future and are continuing to introduce new
products and features to meet their service requirements."
JEA was honored recently with the Broadband Properties
Magazine Cornerstone Award - for the "Best FTTP Public Utility Network" --
presented at the annual Broadband Properties Summit, held in Dallas and
co-sponsored by FOCUS (Fiber Optic Communities of the United States).
About JEA
Jackson Energy Authority (www.jaxenergy.com) is a
progressive public utility authority chartered to provide electricity, natural
and propane gas, water, wastewater, and telecommunications services, including
cable television, high speed data, and telephone service, throughout the state
of Tennessee. As one of the first utility systems to deploy an advanced
Fiber-To-The-Premises broadband network to offer triple-play (voice, video, and
data) services to its customers, JEA has grown to become the largest FTTP
network in the nation.
About Wave7 Optics
Wave7 Optics has established itself as an industry leader in optical
broadband access systems with an expanding FTTP product portfolio featuring a
variety of architectural options, based on IP and Ethernet or ATM standards, for
"triple play" voice, video and data services. The company's patented Last Mile
Link and Trident7 systems are rapidly gaining market share around the world with
service providers in the IOC, CLEC, MSO, municipal, utility and real estate
development categories.
For more information please contact
<Back> |