Consolidated brings in DZS for gigabit fiber network expansion

Consolidated Communications reports that its new locations will receive symmetrical, multi-gigabit capable services enabled by XGS-PON technology, providing advanced large-scale, high-performance, 10-Gbps-capable broadband access.

Stephen Hardy

Aug. 17, 2021

2 min read

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DZS (NASDAQ: DZSI) has this month announced it will support Consolidated Communications Inc. (CCI) in CCI’s gigabit fiber network expansion across 70% of its service area nationwide.

In the network expansion, CCI said it will pass more than 1.6 million homes and businesses, including 27,000 locations supported by the Rural Digital Opportunities Fund (RDOF).

The earmarked locations are targeted for symmetrical, multi-gigabit capable services enabled by XGS-PON technology providing advanced large-scale, high-performance, 10-Gbps-capable broadband access.

For the network expansion, DZS brings to bear its Velocity broadband access solutions portfolio, including the DZS XCelerate line of 10-Gbps XGS-PON with 100 Gbits/sec aggregation cards and the DZS Helix Edge Access solutions.

Launched in July at Fiber Connect 2021, the XCelerate cards support both XGS-PON and GPON and 1 or 10-Gbps Active Ethernet technology out of any port. The DZS Velocity and Helix Edge Access solutions provide further flexibility and advanced gigabit and multi-gigabit in-home and in-business services.

“We couldn’t be more excited about our gigabit fiber expansion initiative, and we are fortunate to have a solid long-term partner like DZS helping us bring this strategy to fruition,” commented Tom White, CTO at CCI.

White concluded, “DZS technology and solutions have over the last 20 years empowered us to deliver cutting edge services at every phase of our growth and transformation journey as we evolved from a local copper-based voice and broadband service provider, to a regional provider that was the first in the U.S. to deliver IPTV at scale, and recently to a top-ten national fiber provider. Today, DZS is helping us leap to multi-gigabit services and to build our future network today at a scale not yet seen in North America.”

About the Author

Stephen Hardy

Editorial Director & Associate Publisher

Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.

Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.

He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, DOCSIS technology, and more.