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SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Jun 15, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Occam(R) Networks Inc. (OTCBB: OCCM), a supplier of innovative Ethernet- and IP-based loop carrier equipment to telecommunications companies worldwide, today announced that Farmers Telephone Cooperative Inc. (FTC) has selected the Occam BLC 6000(TM) System to build the broadband network that will deliver Triple Play services, voice, video and high-speed data to its 60,000 subscribers in eastern South Carolina. The video portion of the network will utilize MPEG-4 Encoding, one of the first commercial deployments of MPEG-4 in North America.
The cooperative is in the process of upgrading its existing access network to a complete Ethernet- and IP-based network that provides its subscribers with services equal to those available to subscribers in urban and suburban areas of the country. It will change from its current TDM switch to a softswitch in late summer of 2005. FTC has recently installed the nation's first all-MPEG-4 AVC digital headend using the Tut Systems Astria(R) Digital TV platform and will use the Occam BLC 6000 System's Gigabit Ethernet transport to deliver a full range of Triple Play services including Digital TV.
"We trialed broadband loop carriers from all the major manufacturers, but only the Occam BLC provided the functionality we needed today," said Richard Haddock, chief engineer for FTC. "Because we are moving to an all Ethernet and IP network and the Astria Digital TV platform is IP-based we needed an IP-based loop carrier that could provide POTS, T1 and ADSL2 Plus capabilities today, as well as deliver MPEG-4 AVC. MPEG-4 opens the door for the delivery of high-definition (HD) TV to our subscribers and we feel Occam can best deliver it."
FTC currently has approximately 450 AFC remote cabinets installed in its network. Because it is heavily invested in this infrastructure, it was important to the company to be able to leverage its existing investment.
"Our ability to install the BLC 6000 1RU product in our existing infrastructure is an enormous cost savings for us," Haddock commented. "Between the Occam 1RU BLC and the large chassis we have maximum flexibility in installation and network design."
The cooperative already has Occam equipment deployed and expects to install the Occam broadband loop carrier in more than 600 remote sites when the installation is completed, and plans to commercially launch its Digital TV service in the fourth quarter of 2005.
Haddock continued, "We wanted a company with as much experience in building this new, state-of-the-art network as possible. Occam's reputation in the industry is very strong. And, we were very excited to hear that they had introduced an active fiber card for the BLC 6000 platform that will provide an easy migration path to fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) when we are ready to deploy it."
"Our customers know that Ethernet and IP are 'must have' access network technologies if they are going to deliver new revenue-generating services like Digital TV cost-effectively," said Russ Sharer, vice president of sales and marketing for Occam. "We are excited to see the deployment of the BLC 6000 in the kind of innovative access network FTC is building. It is exactly the kind of network that the product was designed for -- a network with the bandwidth to deliver Triple Play services cost-effectively with maximum simplicity, flexibility and scalability."
About Farmers Telephone Cooperative Inc.
Farmers Telephone Cooperative Inc. (FTC), founded in 1951, is a multifaceted telecommunications company providing cutting-edge technology to South Carolina businesses and residents in Williamsburg, Lee, Sumter, Clarendon and Florence counties. FTC currently offers local, long distance, paging, digital wireless, Internet access and DSL services to more than 60,000 customers within a coverage area of 3,000 miles. A veteran in the telephone industry, FTC is the third-largest telephone cooperative in the United States. The company is headquartered in Kingstree, S.C., and has seven business offices. Additional information can be found at www.ftc-i.net.
About Occam Networks Inc.
Occam Networks Inc. develops and markets innovative Broadband Loop Carrier networking equipment that enables telephone companies to deliver voice, data and video services. Based on Ethernet and Internet Protocol (IP) technologies, Occam's equipment allows telecommunications service providers to profitably deliver traditional phone services, as well as advanced Voice over IP, residential and business broadband, and digital television services through a single, all-packet access network. Occam is headquartered in Santa Barbara, Calif. Additional information can be found at www.occamnetworks.com.
Portions of this press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future performance of Occam Networks. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from any future performance suggested in such statements. Rapidly changing technologies and market conditions may require changes to Occam's products. Occam does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Please also refer to the company's most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q, annual report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC. These filings contain and identify other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
DSLAM is Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer.
TDM is Time Division Multiplexing.
Occam and Occam BLC 6000 are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Occam Networks Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
Astria is a registered trademark of Tut Systems Inc.
All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE: Occam Networks Inc.
CONTACT: Connect Public Relations Spencer Parkinson, 801-373-7888 spencerp@connectpr.com
Copyright Business Wire 2005
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KEYWORD: United States North America California South Carolina INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Technology Hardware Networks Telecommunications SUBJECT CODE: Product/Service
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