Press Releases
Occam Networks Enables Bledsoe Telephone to Go Live
with Major Network Upgrade
Update Designed to Provide Triple Play Services over a Single Copper/Fiber Network, Project Funded by USDA's RUS Program
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – June 28, 2007 – Occam Networks® Inc. (NASDAQ: OCNW), a leading supplier of innovative Ethernet and IP-based loop carrier equipment to telecommunications companies, announced today that Bledsoe Telephone Cooperative has gone live with a major network upgrade to provide all voice, data and video services over a hybrid copper/fiber network. To implement this upgrade, Bledsoe has purchased multiple components of Occam's Broadband Loop Carrier (BLC) system. Most Bledsoe subscribers now have access to IP video and data as well as advanced voice services. Funds borrowed from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Utilities Programs, Telecommunications, commonly referred to as RUS, paid for this network upgrade.
Bledsoe, headquartered in Pikeville, Tennessee, is in the process of upgrading approximately fifty existing sites, including five central offices. Bledsoe has purchased and deployed Occam's BLC 6252 ADSL2 Plus blades and BLC 615X POTS-only blades.
"We said IP is the future more than three years ago and have been committed to building a single IP-based network since then," said Greg Anderson, general manager of Bledsoe Telephone. "Occam's equipment rose above the pack during our testing phase and has proven to be an excellent choice for our upgrade. Occam has also given us outstanding support to ensure the deployment has been smooth, on time and on budget."
"Our goal is to shorten our local loops so that no subscriber is more than 10,000 feet from a remote cabinet," said Anderson. "This means when we are complete with all phases of the project we will have added approximately 120 new pole-mounted cabinets and everyone will have access to the same advanced voice, video, and data services."
The telco continues to maintain an analog CATV system that will be switched over to Occam's IPTV service and then the old system will be retired.
"We expect the Occam network to both increase the new services we can add to subscribers, as well as help us enjoy considerable cost savings with the move to IP," added Anderson.
"The network upgrade just completed by Bledsoe demonstrates how public/private partnerships can positively impact community services," said Terry Kokinda, General Field Representative - Tennessee for RUS. "The RUS program continues to provide support to communities such as Pikeville and we are eager to expand the program to include more areas where our funding can make a difference in the quality of local telecommunications services."
"Bledsoe is a leading innovator in deploying IPTV and full Triple Play services to all of its subscribers," said Nathan Harrell, vice president of sales at Occam Networks. "This three-year upgrade project is an excellent example of Occam's ability to provide highly-advanced equipment as well as manage an entire project."
About Bledsoe Telephone Cooperative
Founded in 1953, Bledsoe Telephone Cooperative offers a full range of telecommunications services to residents and businesses of Southeastern Tennessee. As a full service telecommunication provider, the cooperative provides local and long distance, voice, video, and data services. Bledsoe has 12,500 access lines and serves a five-county area that includes Bledsoe, Sequatchie and Van Buren counties. Bledsoe has its headquarters in Pikeville, Tenn. Visit www.bledsoe.net for more information.
About the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Utilities Programs, Telecommunications
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Utilities Programs, Telecommunications provides many programs for financing rural America's telecommunications infrastructure. The Traditional Telephone Loan program, for example, consists of hardship, cost of money, and guaranteed loans that finance voice telephone service. The Broadband Access Loan program provides loans for funding the costs of construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities to provide broadband service to eligible rural communities. The Distance Learning and Telemedicine program brings electronic educational resources to rural schools and improving health care delivery in rural America. Lastly, the Community Connect Grant program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide currently unserved areas with broadband service that fosters economic growth and public safety services.
About Occam Networks Inc.
Occam Networks' broadband loop carrier (BLC) solutions enable telecommunications and other service providers to offer innovative voice, broadband, IPTV and full triple play services over copper or fiber. Occam solutions give telco service providers the flexibility and scalability to continuously expand their offerings, with simplicity of service deployment. Occam's BLC products and services are currently deployed at over 225 service providers in North America. For more information, please visit www.occamnetworks.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Portions of this press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future performance of Occam Networks, including statements predicting increased adoption of products and technologies offered by Occam and the willingness and ability of our customers to purchase additional Occam products and upgrade their product offerings. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from any future performance suggested in such statements. In particular, rapidly changing technologies and market conditions may require changes to Occam's products, and the willingness of our customers to purchase upgraded products such as Triple Play will depend in part on customers' existing network configurations and any incremental costs associated with implementing upgrades. 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.
Contact:
Kirsten McGregor
Occam Networks
1.805.692.2917
kmcgregor@occamnetworks.com
Tim Johnson
Stearns Johnson Communications
+1 415.397.7600
tjohnson@stearnsjohnson.com
Occam Networks and Occam BLC 6000 are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Occam Networks Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.