Seven Iowa Telcos Select Occam Networks’ BLC 6000 System to Offer

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Springboard Telecom Selects Occam Networks BLC System to Provide Voice and Data Services to Residential and Business Customers in New Arysley Development

BLC to be Deployed in Next-Gen Network that will Facilitate Deployment of Fiber to the Premises


SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Sept. 8, 2003 Occam Networks Inc. (OTCBB: OCCM), a supplier of innovative Ethernet and IP-based loop carrier equipment to telecommunications companies worldwide, today announced that Springboard Telecom has chosen its Broadband Loop Carrier (BLC) platform to provide voice and high-speed data services to residential and business subscribers.

The BLC system will be deployed initially to deliver service to a new urban development in south Charlotte, N.C. called “The Town of Ayrsley,” which combines residential, commercial and retail facilities. Springboard, a competitive carrier in BellSouth territory, was chosen to be the preferred telecommunications provider for The Town of Ayrsley, which includes a closed fiber optic network that will ultimately enable it to take fiber to the premises of every customer in the 140-acre development.

“ Ayrsley is a unique ‘first-class' development, and we chose the Occam BLC platform because we needed to provide more than just standard services to our Ayrsley customers,” said Rich Brashear, general manager of Springboard Telecom. “We're excited about the IP capabilities of the BLC because they give us the opportunity to provide additional softswitch-enabled services, IP-Centrex and Virtual PBX services, and more.”

Along with its IP functionality, the flexibility of the BLC system was a key factor in Springboard's decision to select the Occam equipment.

“We found that we can install the BLCs and provide any kind of service we plan to provide on a common platform with carrier-class redundancy,” said Brashear. “In addition to standard voice services, we can provide DSL, native Ethernet, and also serve customers with traditional T-1s if they prefer.”

The decision to select Occam was also influenced by Occam's Ethernet-based platform, which integrates easily into the Ayrsley network infrastructure. Because the development is served by a Gigabit Ethernet fiber optic ring backbone, it is simple to use the BLCs to hand off Ethernet services, such as transparent LAN service, to customers. Transparent LAN allows Ayrsley business customers to benefit from Ethernet connectivity between separate buildings, creating the appearance of a single LAN and eliminating the need for routing over traditional circuit-based facilities not optimized for data.

“Springboard has gained the reputation of providing the highest-quality most cutting-edge services to its customers, so we're pleased to be selected by them for such a unique project,” said Russ Sharer, VP of marketing and business development at Occam Networks. “We look forward to helping the company expand its services as Ayrsley grows and draws attention as a model for advanced service provisioning.”

About Springboard Telecom
Springboard Telecom, LLC is a competitive communications provider offering a full spectrum of telecommunications services in the greater Charlotte market. The comprehensive package of services includes local and long distance services, Internet and data services, conference calling, and digital wireless services bundled on a single bill providing the convenience of “just one stop” shopping. The company's web site is www.justonestop.net.

About Occam Networks Inc.
Occam Networks Inc. develops and markets a suite of Broadband Loop Carriers, innovative Ethernet- and IP-based loop carrier platforms that enable telecommunications service providers to profitably deliver a variety of traditional as well as packetized voice, broadband and Internet Protocol (IP) services from a single, converged, 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.