September 22, 2008, PETALUMA, CA—Calix, the worldwide leader in overall gigabit passive
optical network (GPON) equipment revenue (Dell'Oro Group, August 2008), today continued
its access innovation by announcing the availability of an industry first — the
700GX family of optical network terminals (ONT), which support Active Ethernet
standards in addition to the ITU-T passive optical networking (GPON and BPON)
standards. The 700GX
ONT family employs Calix' unique auto-detect technology, first introduced to
the industry's broadest
portfolio of ONTs in 2007 to enable Calix customers to deploy BPON or GPON
over the same ONT. Calix has now extended this technology to add Active
Ethernet support, providing a widely deployable, standards-based solution that
offers unmatched flexibility and investment protection.
[Editor's note: See also
today's release entitled, "New Calix Extended Reach GPON Technology
Increases Services Reach by 50 Percent"]
Increasingly, GPON and Active Ethernet are being viewed as
complementary technologies based on the application. GPON is ideal for mass
residential and small business deployments, while Active Ethernet is sometimes
preferred for larger businesses that demand dedicated fiber access. Calix
innovation gives service providers the flexibility to implement either of these
two technologies on a single ONT. The result: a Unified Access Infrastructure
that enables service providers to benefit from the ability to deliver and
manage both PON and Active Ethernet technologies as one network rather than as
separate networks.
"PON and Active Ethernet have falsely been cast as
competitive technologies when, in fact, they are complementary," said David Russell,
solutions marketing director, Calix. "With the 700GX ONT, Calix is the first
company to allow service providers an operationally and capitally efficient way
to leverage the strengths of both technologies out of the same ONT. As with the
rest of the Calix Unified Access Infrastructure, service providers can choose
the right technology to fit their needs today, while maintaining the
flexibility to adapt to new demands in the future."
The new Calix 700GX ONT provides many benefits:
- Calix' auto-detect technology allows providers to remotely
provision and convert any subscriber from one technology standard to another;
no expensive truck rolls or upgrades are required at the customer premises.
- Calix customers can install the 700GX ONT in conjunction with the
Calix C7, E5-400, and
F5 platforms
already deployed in their networks, as well as with all standards-based GE
switches or routers.
- Those business customers that demand dedicated fiber access can
be serviced using the Active Ethernet mode on the 700GX.
- When in Active Ethernet mode, the 700GX can reach subscribers up
to 40 km distant, enabling service to hard-to-reach customers.
- Service providers need to inventory only one ONT for all common
standards: Active Ethernet, BPON, and GPON.
"We are a big believer in GPON for most residential and
business services, but we are seeing increasing demand and opportunity for
delivering dedicated, symmetrical Ethernet services to our business customers,"
said Zack Odell, director of operations at SCTelecom in Medicine Lodge, Kansas.
"With the 700GX ONT, we have the flexibility to deploy and manage one network,
independent of the service or technology demanded. Not only does this greatly
simplify our network and inventory management, but also the integrated Active
Ethernet support saves us thousands of dollars per business site relative to
how we historically had to implement dedicated, symmetrical, fiber-based
Ethernet services."
"GPON is becoming the dominant FTTP technology in North America, but there are a number of applications where Active Ethernet is a more
appropriate option," said Vince Vittore, program manager for enabling
technologies at Yankee Group. "This poses a dilemma for service providers that
want to standardize access technologies across their networks and drive
operational efficiencies, yet are under competitive pressure to meet growing
service demands. As fiber-rich infrastructures become more prevalent across
competitive boundaries, operational benefits like the flexibility to support
both Active Ethernet and GPON technologies in one ONT provide a competitive
advantage."
Availability
The Calix 700GX ONTs are available for order now.
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.
For additional information contact:
Jeannette Bitz
Engage PR
510-748-8200 x207
jbitz@engagepr.com
