Press Releases

New Products Simplify Delivery of Broadband and Voice Service by Combining the Functionality of a DLC, DSLAM, Media Gateway, and Loop Tester on a Single Platform

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - April 2, 2001 - Occam Networks, Inc., developers of cost-effective, scalable broadband deployment solutions, today announced the launch of a trial program for the Occam BLC-1100Broadband Loop Carrier™ (BLC). The product represent a new class of carrier equipment that integrates the functions of a Digital Loop Carrier (DLC), a DSL Access Multiplexer (DSLAM), a media gateway, and a loop tester.

"We began a limited customer trial program in November and have had fantastic results in our first two trials," said Lisa Farr, Occam's president and CEO. "Expanding the Occam BLC-1100 trial program will enable more carriers to experience the true benefit of these products. As the simplicity-and power-of these platforms becomes widely recognized, we believe that this technology will challenge existing architectures because BLCs are more flexible, more scalable, far more cost-effective, and offer double the useful life of conventional DLCs and DSLAMs."

Integrating seamlessly into existing network infrastructures, the BLC-1100 is optimized for megabit data streams as well as traditional voice services with 24 subscriber ports, each of which supports simultaneous ADSL and lifeline POTS. With built-in support for 4 T1/E1s, or optional fiber optic 10/100 Ethernet transport, the BLC-1100 cost-effectively transforms existing narrowband local loops into converged broadband access networks. The device was designed with a small footprint (occupying one rack unit, just 1.75-inches of rack space) and an environmentally hardened chassis for easy deployment in remote terminal cabinets.

"Occam's BLC-1100 appeals to us because it fits into our existing remote terminal locations and lets us deploy DSL very quickly," said Shane Broyles, research and development coordinator at Rural Telephone, a Kansas-based telecommunications provider and a participant in Occam's trial program since November 2000. "In addition, the packetized voice features of the BLC-1100 will enable us to more easily migrate to a softswitch architecture in the future."

"We were looking for a solution that could put us in the DSL marketplace sooner rather than later, and enable us to upgrade our remote terminals-the BLC-1100 seems to be that solution," said Jim Mitchell, president of Armstrong Telephone Company, an operator of six telephone companies serving customers in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland, and trial user of the BLC-1100 since January 2001. "We were particularly interested in the fact that the devices rely on a cost-effective Ethernet network rather than requiring the expensive infrastructure common in DSLAMs."

The BLC-1100 is currently available for trial with general availability slated for the third quarter of this year. Carriers interested in additional information on the trial program can contact Occam Networks at 805 679 4210 or via email at info@occamnetworks.com.

About Occam Networks, Inc.
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.