June 10, 2008, PETALUMA, CA—Calix today announced two new additions to its access portfolio that enable service providers to deliver advanced, high-bandwidth IP services over their existing copper infrastructure. The Calix E5-120 and E5-121 Ethernet Service Platforms (ESPs) – part of the Calix E-Series multiservice over Ethernet product family – expand the portfolio of options available to service providers by addressing the growing bandwidth needs of residential and business customers.

[Editor's note: See also today's release entitled, "Calix Expands Access Portfolio with Carrier-Grade 10 Gigabit Ethernet Solution"]

IPTV services and an increasingly connected consumer lifestyle are rapidly driving the need for more bandwidth in the last mile. As a result, service providers are looking for access solutions that can use their existing copper infrastructure to meet these demands while simplifying management and lowering operational costs. Calix' new environmentally hardened products and unified access infrastructure meet these needs, offering service providers a number of benefits:

• The platforms support the fiber-like speed of VDSL2 plus the key feature of ADSL fallback, enabling them to interoperate with ADSL modems already deployed in service provider networks. They thus mitigate a major challenge to the deployment of VDSL2 solutions.
• The E5-120 and E5-121 complement the Calix C7 multiservice, multiprotocol access platform, providing new options for delivering advanced Ethernet and IP services in existing or new E-Series-based deployments.
• Both new products are fully managed via the Calix Management System (CMS), which provides a single network view across the Calix access portfolio while delivering flexible, small-form-factor options for delivering and managing advanced Ethernet and IP services.

"As bandwidth requirements, particularly for video, ratchet higher, service providers are looking for ways to offer competitive services across their existing copper infrastructures," said Frank Wiener, vice president of product development at Calix. "Our compact new E5-120 and E5-121 platforms leverage the latest VDSL2 technologies plus ADSL fallback to overcome the major hurdle inhibiting North American VDSL deployments – how to roll out VDSL2 in existing networks without mass modem change-outs. Because our new platforms complement and expand the Calix access portfolio, providers can address their bandwidth challenges head-on with a unified access infrastructure, a single network view, and a common user experience – independent of media type, protocol, or service."

"Like other service providers, Chibardun Telephone Cooperative needs to leverage its copper infrastructure to deliver compelling IPTV services – a challenge that's exacerbated by demand for HDTV and higher-speed broadband services," said Rick Vergin, CEO at Chibardun Telephone Cooperative in Cameron, Wisconsin. "We've been successfully using Calix E5-100 products to deliver ADSL2+ video services. Now the company's new E5-120 and E5-121 platforms give us the best of both worlds – VDSL2 bandwidth with an ADSL fallback, plus the ability to snap into our existing networks."

"Excluding AT&T's U-verse initiative, VDSL2 adoption in the North American market has been slow to develop. As the demand for additional bandwidth to enable multiplay services grows, service providers have come under increasing competitive pressure to deploy new technologies," said Matt Davis, program director of consumer multiplay services at IDC. "VDSL in all its forms is one of the key technologies service providers have long considered. However, they had questions about standardization and the ability to seamlessly interconnect with legacy ADSL technology - a critical function that prevents the requirement for a massive DSL CPE upgrade. The maturation of VDSL technology gives service providers more options when deploying new bandwidth-intensive multiplay services."

The Calix E5-120 and E5-121 Ethernet Service Platforms

These new additions to the Calix E5-100 ESP family provide higher bandwidth capacity and more flexibility in pushing Ethernet and high-speed services deeper into the network.

• The E5-120 and E5-121 both support VDSL2 with ADSL fallback
• The E5-121 combo platform supports lifeline and SIP voice services as well as VDSL2 for broadband services
• The E5-120 and E5-121 are designed for low-density, high-capacity broadband applications; a small 1.5 RU form factor enables providers to use them in space-constrained or hard-to-reach locations

Products Complement the Calix Access Portfolio

The new additions to the Calix E-series product family are fully managed by the Calix Management System (CMS). When combined with the other solutions in the Calix access portfolio – the Calix C-Series, F-Series, and P-Series platforms – the E5-120 and E5-121 play a key role in providing a comprehensive unified access infrastructure that delivers a single managed network for advanced services while providing operational and capital efficiency.

Availability and Live Demonstration

The Calix E5-120/121 platforms are available now on a limited basis. Calix expects them to be available generally in Q3 2008.

The E5-120 will be on display at NXTcomm 08 in Las Vegas, June 17-19, at Calix booth SU8010. The product will be part of an industry-first, live, advanced IP services demonstration that includes Microsoft Mediaroom middleware, HD linear and on-demand video content, and a host of interactive services. A dazzling user experience will be delivered across a redundant 10GE Enhanced EAPS ring created by multiple E5-400s and subsequently delivered across copper and fiber media via the Calix E5-120 (VDSL2), the Calix C7 (GPON), and the Calix E5-111 (bonded ADSL2+) platforms.

Links

The E5-100 platforms – http://www.calix.com/products/e-series/calix_e5.html

Keywords

Ethernet, video, HDTV, VDSL2, ADSL fallback, Ethernet Service Platforms

About Calix
Calix is the largest telecom equipment supplier focused solely on access solutions for broadband service delivery. Service providers deploy Calix access systems to enable a rich set of information, communication, and entertainment services and to expand their revenue base beyond connectivity. Calix access innovation helps service providers transform their networks from circuit to packet, narrowband to broadband, and copper to fiber. Calix has deployed millions of ports and tens of thousands of systems into hundreds of service provider networks throughout North America. For more information, visit the Calix website at www.calix.com.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are based upon management's current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations.

Any information in this press release regarding future product plans is based on current expectations, but is not a commitment, promise or legal obligation to deliver any new product (hardware or software), feature, or functionality. The development and release of any new product, feature, or functionality remains at Calix's sole discretion, and no statements in this press release should be relied upon in making purchase decisions.

For additional information contact:
Jeannette Bitz
Engage PR
510-748-8200 x207
jbitz@engagepr.com