Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative preps Gigabit FTTH

Broadband access network equipment provider Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) says that Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative (FTC) is using its equipment to support 1-Gbps fiber to the home (FTTH) services in Alabama's DeKalb and Jackson Counties.

FTC's 2770-mile fiber-optic network footprint extends between Huntsville, AL, and Chattanooga, TN. The point-to-point Ethernet infrastructure now leverages Calix's B6 Ethernet Service Access Nodes (ESANs) and 716 Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) to offer symmetrical 1-Gbps connections to support digital voice, IPTV, security, and broadband. The company also offers symmetrical 100-Mbps services.

"FTC is a member-owned cooperative with a mission to bring world-class services to our membership and gigabit services are the next step in our commitment," said Fred Johnson, executive vice president and general manager at FTC. "We believe the gigabit experience can transform our communities through advanced learning tools, new entertainment options, and telemedicine services, just to name a few. By expanding our fiber network to reach more than 80% of our serving area and utilizing the power of the Calix Unified Access portfolio, we are in a position to future-proof our investment for whatever emerging applications our increasingly device-enabled subscribers demand."

Gigabit services are available to both FTC's fiber-fed residential and business customers, with additional premium services offered to commercial customers to meet their business-critical requirements.

"FTC is leading the gigabit charge in Alabama, adding one more to the growing list of states which are meeting the FCC's challenge to create a gigabit community in every state by the end of the year," said John Colvin, Calix senior vice president of North American sales. "In the past year, we have seen the gigabit wave accelerate as Calix has enabled more than 65 gigabit networks in 37 states. 2015 looks to be another banner year for gigabit networks and we are excited to help service providers like FTC as they pull fiber forward to meet the FCC's challenge and act as a beacon for the rest of the world to follow."

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