Pelican Bay, FL, opts for ADTRAN FTTH equipment

Pelican Bay, FL, has chosen ADTRAN, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADTN) to supply equipment to support construction of a gigabit fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network, the systems provider says.

The network will serve the fiber-optic broadband needs of the community’s 6,500 residents as well as businesses, including a pair of high-end resort hotels. The decision to move to a gigabit FTTH network came as the incumbent provider’s contract was set to expire. The town formed an infrastructure committee -- a group of residents that included several retired corporate executives – to investigate the possibilities of building its own FTTH network.

The committee worked with Spectrum Engineering, a consulting engineering firm, to create a strategic plan and risk mitigation strategy. Summit Broadband was selected to deploy the FTTH infrastructure. The contract with Summit included "bulk agreements" designed to ensure that residents and Summit would be jointly held responsible for maintaining a high level of user experience.

It was Summit that selected ADTRAN’s Total Access 5000 broadband portfolio for the build. The system will enable Summit to offer a variety of services, including Internet speeds at 100, 200, or 500 Mbps, as well as gigabit capabilities.

"The Pelican Bay deployment is perhaps the most innovative business model we’ve been a part of. From the beginning, the committee knew exactly what they wanted and weren’t afraid to make those demands known," said Scott Bowles, president of Spectrum Engineering. "It's a great model for other communities looking to take charge of their network infrastructure. All it takes is a group of dedicated residents who are ready to work hard for what they want and technology providers who are willing to work closely with their customers to meet their demands. Partnering with Summit Broadband and ADTRAN ensured that Pelican Bay residents’ expectations were not only met, but exceeded."

"The residents of Pelican Bay are unique in that, from the start, they saw the need for gigabit services as part of their long-term community strategy," said Mitch Fleming, regional vice president, sales, ADTRAN Carrier Networks Division. "ADTRAN is dedicated to helping service providers create new types of business opportunities that make the most sense for the communities they support. In the case of Pelican Bay, ADTRAN’s FTTH solutions provide the reliability and flexibility that Spectrum Engineering and Summit Broadband needed to not only create a new business model, but to deliver the high-quality of service that residents demand from their broadband experience."

For more information on FTTx equipment and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.