Product Suite Enables Complete Range of Services Over New Ethernet Services Using Existing Copper Loops
Oakland, CA - January 9, 2007 –
Zhone Technologies, Inc.(NASDAQ:
ZHNE), a global provider of advanced communications equipment and a leader in
VoIP, IPTV, and Ethernet over both copper and fiber access lines, today
announced that Grande Communications has selected and deployed Zhone's highly
acclaimed EtherXtend product for Ethernet service delivery throughout its
service areas.
Zhone's EtherXtend, Ethernet in the First Mile over Copper
(EFM) solution provides a cost-effective and elegant method for service
providers to offer scalable Ethernet-based access services to a large and
growing base of business customers. These products deliver scalable Ethernet
bandwidth over ordinary copper loops. By bonding pairs of copper, service
providers can quickly deliver up to 45Mbps of manageable bandwidth. Grande has
been deploying Zhone's MALC 723 and MALC 319 broadband loop carriers utilizing
both ADSL 2+ and POTS circuits for the past three years.
According to
Infonetics Research, Ethernet services are expected to generate more than $5
billion in service revenues by 2009 in the U.S. alone. However, fiber touches
only 11 percent of the more than five million small and medium-sized business
locations. IP-based voice, video and network-based content services provide new
revenue opportunities for service providers. The ability to offer Ethernet-based
access services is critical to service provider growth.
Zhone has a
unique position in the Ethernet market with the only broadband loop carrier
(BLC) that also supports EFM Ethernet access. With more than one million BLC
ports deployed at carriers around the world, only Zhone provides a common
platform that supports DSL, POTS and EFM. Only Zhone offers the density and the
range of services that carriers require. Zhone offers the broadest range of
platforms from large systems to a full line of smaller devices.
Ethernet
is already ubiquitous within homes and businesses, but has not been made widely
available as an access solution. The new 802.3ah standard recently ratified by
the IEEE is accelerating the adoption of this compelling new solution. As an
early leader in the space, Zhone is uniquely well positioned to capture this
market. Only Zhone can claim:
- First to market with Ethernet over bonded copper products from Net to Net
shipping since 1998
- Number 1 market leader in EFM over copper in 2005 according to analyst firm
Infonetics
- Number 1 market-leading BLC
In just seven years to nearly
300,000 connections, Grande's Internet, phone and cable retail business
continues to grow, and Zhone's Ethernet services architecture has improved and
enhanced Grande's network capacity, subscriber provisioning and service
delivery.
"Grande is committed to delivering superior service to our
subscribers," said Lamar Horton, Director of Network Engineering at Grande. "The
addition of Zhone's Ethernet access technology in combination with Grande's
extensive copper and fiber network creates an unparalleled delivery vehicle,
allowing us to rapidly deliver packet services that our subscribers require
while lowering our cost structure."
The growing prominence of IP
communications also led to Grande's selection of Zhone according to Robert
Russell, Director of Sales Operations and Product Development at Grande. "Having
the ability to provide our customers native Ethernet IP communications
seamlessly across our fiber and copper networks was a critical factor in our
Metro Ethernet vendor selection." He also adds, "The unique ability to offer
true 802.1 Q-in-Q Transparent LAN Service with the requisite Layer 2 and 3
controls is an important component of this product offering for
Grande."
"Zhone is developing products that address the real world
problems facing service providers today. Namely, the build-out of a network
infrastructure that can deliver broadband Ethernet solutions today, while
providing the scalability to allow for additional applications and services of
tomorrow," said Eric Knapp, senior product manager, Ethernet access products at
Zhone. "Grande understands the importance of extending and building on to its
existing infrastructure in order to capture this enormous market opportunity for
delivering high value broadband services."
Related Information
About Grande Communications (www.grandecom.com)
Headquartered in
San Marcos, Grande Communications is building a deep-fiber broadband network to
homes and businesses from the ground up. Grande delivers high-speed Internet,
local and long-distance telephone, digital cable and wireless home security
services over its own advanced network to communities in Texas. Grande's bundled
service area includes portions of Austin, Corpus Christi, suburban northwest
Dallas, Midland, Odessa, San Antonio, San Marcos and Waco. Grande also leverages
its telephony and data infrastructure by serving enterprises and communications
carriers nationwide with broadband transport services and network
services.
About Zhone Technologies, Inc. (www.zhone.com)
Zhone Technologies,
Inc. (NASDAQ: ZHNE) is a global provider of advanced communications equipment to
more than 600 operators in both emerging and established markets. Zhone’s
market-leading Broadband Loop Carrier equipment enables operators to rapidly
deploy revenue-generating access services using their existing infrastructure,
while providing a migration path to a cost-efficient, all-IP access network. The
company’s products address a broad range of applications including residential
and business broadband, VoIP, IPTV, and Ethernet over both copper and fiber
access lines. Zhone's advanced networking solutions include the Single Line
Multi-Service architecture (SLMS™), Multi-Access Line Concentrator (MALC™),
Raptor™ ATM/IP DSLAMs, Zhone Residential Gateways (ZRG™), GigaMux™ Optical
Transport Systems and Zhone Management System (ZMS™).
Contacts:
Investors
Tel: +1 510-777-7013
Fax: +1 510-777-7001
Email:
investor-relations@zhone.com
Media
Tel : +1 510-777-7020
Fax : +1 510-777-7001
Email: public-relations@zhone.com
Zhone, the Zhone logo, and all Zhone product names are trademarks of Zhone
Technologies, Inc. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their
respective holders. Specifications, products, and/or product names are all
subject to change without notice.
Zhone's Single
Line Multi-Service architecture (SLMS™), allows carriers to concurrently deliver
voice, new premium data and video services over copper or fiber access
lines.
©2007 Zhone Technologies. All
Rights Reserved.
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