Press Releases

On a Single Platform, Occam's Broadband Loop Carriers Provide the Functionality of a DLC, DSLAM, Media Gateway, and Loop Tester while Offering a One-Year ROI

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - April 2, 2001 - Occam Networks, developers of cost-effective, scalable broadband deployment solutions, has introduced a new class of carrier equipment called Broadband Loop Carriers™ (BLCs). Integrating the functionality of a Digital Loop Carrier (DLC), a DSL Access Multiplexer (DSLAM), a media gateway, and a loop tester into a single environmentally hardened compact platform that can be easily located in remote terminals, BLCs streamline broadband deployment, management, and service maintenance.

"BLCs represent a significant departure for carrier broadband deployments because, for the first time, they provide a cost-effective, simple approach to voice and data service delivery," said Lisa Farr, Occam's president and CEO. "Our concept is that simpler is better, and we achieve that simplicity by consolidating functionality which previously required multiple devices--often from multiple vendors--on a single scalable platform that supports unprecedented port density, unprecedented bandwidth, and unprecedented performance. Equally important, BLCs feature an ROI of less than one-year as compared to the nearly two-years required for more traditional DSL deployment architectures."

BLCs also support lifeline POTS on every ADSL port, so voice service can continue uninterrupted from any "black phone". This enables true convergence; POTS, derived voice services such as VoDSL or VoIP, and data can all be handled on a single BLC platform. As a result, carriers can offer a broad variety of profitable services from a BLC - from ADSL to softswitch controlled voice to VDSL for streaming media - and offer these services to a variety of subscribers, from residential to large corporate subscribers.

Because they provide up to 64 Gbps of system capacity and utilize T1, ATM or Gigabit Ethernet transport to the CO, BLCs can support both lower speed broadband technologies such as ADSL, as well as higher bandwidth alternatives such as G.SHDSL, VDSL, or fiberoptic Ethernet to the home. BLCs also offer seven times greater port density than alternative technologies, enabling a carrier to leverage the limited space available in many remote terminals. The net result: BLCs offer a useful life of 10 to 15 years, more than double that of earlier DSL platforms.

"The power of a BLC is its ability to leverage existing POTS and local loop infrastructures while offering service providers the potential to grow their services through support for new and evolving broadband alternatives, soft switches, and the ability to reach more customers with these offers," said Claudia Bacco, executive vice president, at TeleChoice, Inc. (Dallas, Texas). "Occam's technology appears to be the type of platform carriers have been looking for to extend the useful life of their existing investments while meeting increased customer demands for enhanced broadband services."

The BLC offers carriers maximum deployment flexibility. BLCs can interface with existing DLC to add DSL functionality, can be used to transition from the current network architecture to a new network architecture, or can be deployed in greenfield installations. The BLC can be installed anywhere in the network from CO to remote terminal and can support both copper- and fiber-fed remote terminals.

Occam's family of broadband loop carrier platforms includes the BLC-1100 which offers 24 subscriber ports, each providing simultaneous ADSL and lifeline POTS service, and the BLC-2200, a modular platform that scales to hundreds of ADSL/POTS, G.SHDSL or Gigabit Ethernet ports. Both platforms are supported by OccamView™, an element management system that provides centralized administration over distributed BLCs.

About Occam Networks
Occam Networks, Inc. develops and markets a suite of Broadband Loop Carriers, a simple, cost-effective solution that enables Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs) to overcome the limitations of the local loop to profitably deliver a variety of voice and broadband services to their subscribers. Privately held Occam Networks was founded in 1999. Since its inception, the company has received approximately $41 million in financing from private investors, including US Venture Partners, New Enterprise Associates, Norwest Venture Partners, The Anschutz Group, Windward Venture Partners, Crescent Ventures, and Hook Partners. The company is headquartered in Santa Barbara, Calif. and has additional offices in Agoura Hills, Calif. and Tempe, Ariz. Additional information about the company can be found at www.occamnetworks.com.