BLAST project leverages EXA Powered C7 and E7 to bring broadband services to all American Samoans
PETALUMA, CA–April 16, 2012–Calix, Inc. (NYSE:CALX, news, filings) today announced that the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) has selected the Calix Unified Access Portfolio and Calix Professional Services to support and implement its Broadband Linking the American Samoa Territory (“BLAST”) Project, which will deliver ubiquitous advanced broadband services across the islands of American Samoa. The USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) funded the Project through a $91 million Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) award consisting of a combined grant and loan for plant engineering, materials, labor, and other costs, including access equipment. The BLAST Project will transform the islands’ legacy copper network into an advanced fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) infrastructure. ASTCA has announced its intention to build this new network with the Ethernet eXtensible Architecture (EXA) Powered Calix access equipment, including C7 Multiservice Access Platform (MSAP) and E7 Ethernet Service Access Platforms (ESAPs), as well as the 700GE family of optical network terminals (ONTs). The Calix Professional Services team will serve as the program manager for the BLAST Project, working with key members of Calix Compatible Solutions Assurance Program to manage the various components of the network build, while providing network engineering, furnishing, and installation services.
Over 11,500 residences, businesses, and anchor institutions will be served by this world-class network, which will deliver ultra-high-speed data, next-generation voice services, and new internet protocol television (IPTV) services across the islands. As part of its program management, Calix is coordinating a multi-vendor partnership to bring a complete IPTV solution, from hardware to content, to ASTCA. As the project progresses, Calix will be working closely with Mid-State Consultants to drive an aggressive schedule of completing central office construction by the end of 2012.
“The BLAST project will forever change the way of life for the residents, businesses, and visitors of American Samoa, bringing to our subscribers a world-class broadband services infrastructure and furthering economic development across the islands,” Aleki Sene Sr., Executive Director of ASTCA. “With Calix solutions already deployed in our Fagatogo and Fagaitua central offices, we feel confident in their EXA Powered solutions, their strong industry partnerships, and their program management capabilities will allow us to successfully transform our network to deliver advanced and reliable broadband services to our customers. Beyond advanced services, this state-of-the-art fiber access network will also greatly improve our ability to provide emergency services.”
As the only part of the United States located south of the equator, many of the remote islands of American Samoa were devastated by a tsunami after an 8.0 magnitude earthquake in the Pacific Ocean in September of 2009. With this new fiber network in place, ASTCA will be better able to withstand extreme weather conditions, enable advanced early warning systems, and provide reliable services to the country’s anchor institutions, including local government offices, as well as businesses and residents. ASTCA will utilize the flexibility of the Calix C7 and E7 platforms and 700GE ONT family, to deliver broadband services over gigabit passive optical network (GPON), and provide 10 gigabit Ethernet (10GE) network transport throughout the islands.
“ASTCA is committed to delivering the most advanced broadband services throughout American Samoa,” said John Colvin, senior vice president of North American sales and marketing at Calix. “Transforming the network to a predominantly fiber infrastructure will help ensure the BLAST Project improves the lives of residents, drives business development, and gives American Samoa an advantage in the global marketplace for years to come. We are looking forward to kicking off this ambitious project with ASTCA and playing an active role in the transformation of both the network and the entire community.”
With today’s announcement, aggregate Calix vendor selections by Broadband Stimulus winners for “last mile” and “middle mile” awards have now reached 89 different projects representing approximately $1.8 billion in Stimulus-related grants, loans, and private investment for plant engineering, materials, labor, and other costs, including access equipment.
Calix will be attending the Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association (PITA) 16th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Paradise Hotel, Territory of Norfolk Island, April 17-20, 2012. A sponsor of this event, Calix will be speaking on Thursday April 19 on the topic of “VDSL2 Implementation: Vectoring, Bonding, Architecture.” For more information, visit the PITA events page.
About Calix
Calix (NYSE: CALX) is a global leader in access innovation. Its Unified Access portfolio of broadband communications access systems and software enable communications service providers worldwide to be the broadband provider of choice to their subscribers. 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, 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 year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on February 24, 2012, available at http://www.sec.gov.
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Neila Matheny
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Neila.matheny@calix.com
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