PETALUMA, CA—September 7, 2010—Calix, Inc (NYSE: CALX) today announced the introduction
of a new Ethernet Service Access Node (ESAN) family to its Unified Access portfolio – the E3 family of sealed
ESANs – and the debut of its first family member – the new E3-12C sealed ESAN.
An entirely new extension to the widely deployed and field-proven Calix E-Series platforms,
the E3 sealed ESANs provide communications service providers with new, flexible
options for offering high bandwidth, advanced very high bit-rate digital
subscriber line 2 (VDSL2) services at an increasingly strategic point in the
evolution of the access network – the remote node. The environmentally hardened
and sealed E3 family combines a variety of low profile, compact form factors
with a variety of mounting and powering options to enable extensive deployment
flexibility. Fiber-Fed with multiple gigabit Ethernet (GE) feeds and ready for
an "all-video world," E3 ESANs provide the capacity to support increasingly
bandwidth-intensive services and high broadband services uptake. A powerful
complement to the Calix Unified Access portfolio, the E3 sealed ESANs are
optimized for bringing "Fiber Forward" in the access network, allowing communications
service providers who are pulling fiber deeper into their networks to easily
deliver near fiber speeds to areas still saturated with copper plant.
The E3-12C, the first E3 family
member to be introduced, is focused on advanced combo VDSL2 copper services
deployment in low density and remote areas. In contrast with the chassis-based Calix C7 Multiservice
Access Platform (MSAP) and E7 Ethernet Service
Access Platform (ESAP), and the rack mountable, fixed form factor family of
E5 ESANs,
the E3 is a sealed ESAN VDSL2 delivery vehicle that supports session initiation
protocol (SIP) and H.248 voice protocols, remote and -48VDC powering, and can
be easily installed virtually anywhere in the access network – on poles, on walls,
in low profile "dog house" enclosures, or even in the basements of
multi-dwelling units (MDUs). Additionally, the E3-12C is fiber-fed, supporting
up to two standards-based gigabit Ethernet uplinks and preparing the access
network edge for bandwidth-intensive services like video.
Calix customers are finding the E3-12C
sealed ESANs an easy and cost-effective way to meet broadband demands while
strategically driving fiber deployment in their networks. With each unit
supporting up to 12 combo VDSL2 subscribers, communications service providers
are viewing the E3-12C as a "right-sized" access solution, capable of being
deployed on a "pay-as-you-grow" basis for CAPEX efficiency. Filling an emerging
gap created by growing bandwidth demands and the cost realities of deep fiber
deployment, the E3s are clearly complementary to the Calix Unified Access portfolio,
expanding its exceptional breadth of solutions across the access network.
"We were looking for an access
solution that was both the right size for rural deployment and allowed us to
deliver advanced VDSL2 services while operationally snapping-in to our existing
asynchronous digital subscriber line (ADSL) operational model, and we found the
E3-12C to be an ideal fit," said Gary Cantrell, plant superintendent at Adams Telephone Co-Operative in Golden, Illinois.
"We weren't looking for a cheap remote terminal...we needed a flexible solution
that was easy and cost-effective to deploy in remote, rural areas while
providing fiber-like speeds over our existing copper. Our goal is to provide
advanced broadband services to every member of our community, and with support
for VDSL2 with ADSL fallback already integrated, we can leverage the E3 on a
pay-as-you-grow basis while strategically pulling 'Fiber Forward' into the
network."
Although it is smaller and has a
lower combo port count than the other widely-deployed E-Series ESANs, the
E3-12C supports the same key Ethernet protocols, features, and management
functionality as other E-Series platforms, such as a robust Ethernet switching
fabric for layer 2 switching with layer 3 services. In addition to supporting
VDSL2 with ADSL2+ fallback, the E3-12C also supports bonding across VDSL2 and
ADSL for future bandwidth flexibility. Two small form factor pluggable- (SFP-) based
GE uplinks provide connectivity upstream or in a ring configuration, although
the units can be linked via either copper or fiber in a daisy-chained
configuration.
Other E3-12C features supported include:
- Dual GE uplink with 802.1w rapid spanning tree protocol (RSTP) and 802.3ad link aggregation
- RSTP ring support
- Layer 2 switching and forwarding for deployment simplicity and Layer 3 awareness for scalability and security
- Integrated Internet group management protocol (IGMP) v2 and v3 snooping for IPTV
- Lifeline voice with native SIP or H.248 conversion
- Dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) relay and snooping for facilitated network security
- Service prioritization via IEEE 802.1Q virtual local access networks (VLANs) and 802.1p support
- Support for multiple service delivery models, including VLAN per service, VLAN per port, or hybrid
- Full Calix Management System (CMS) integration for complete network visibility and management
"We believe the new E3 sealed ESAN family to be the only systems
in the industry meant for nodal network deployment that were designed from the
'subscriber in' as opposed to the 'network out' – a distinction that is
demonstrated by its unique combination of low combo port count, remote powering,
and high capacity," said Kevin Pope, senior vice president of product
development at Calix. "As residential subscribers rapidly move to an 'all-video
world' and the communications service provider competitive environment
continues to heighten, the ability to deploy broadband solutions quickly on a
pay-as-you-grow basis in even the most remote parts of the access network will
become increasingly important, as will the ability to react rapidly to increased
network capacity driven by higher services demand. With subscriber demand
becoming increasingly volatile and unpredictable, we believe that communications
service providers planning for the future will value low port counts, like the 12
combo ports introduced today in the E3-12C, to be 'right-sized' for incremental
growth, and that the E3 sealed ESANs will fill a clear and emerging need in communications
service provider networks and in the Calix Unified Access portfolio."
The E3-12C as well as the entire Calix Unified Access portfolio of
fiber access solutions will be on display at the Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Show Conference and Expo September 13-15 at Calix Booth 500 at the
Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
About Calix
Calix is a leading provider in North America of broadband communications access
systems and software for copper- and fiber- based network architectures that
enable communications service providers to connect to their residential and
business subscribers. Calix has shipped over seven million ports of its
Unified Access Infrastructure portfolio to more than 500 North American and
international customers, whose networks serve over 40 million subscriber lines
in total.
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, except as required by
law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from
current expectations, based on risks and uncertainties affecting the Company's
business. The reader is cautioned not to unduly rely on the forward-looking
statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential
factors that could affect Calix's results and other risks and uncertainties are
detailed in its report on Form 10-Q for the
fiscal quarter ended June 26, 2010, filed with the SEC on July 23, 2010,
available at http://www.sec.gov.
Press Contact:
Catherine Koo
415-992-4400
calix@lewispr.com
