Blue Ridge Communications this month announced that it is now embarking on a multi-year deployment of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) technology, having chosen Calix Intelligent Access EDGE and DPx back-office technologies to deliver high-speed, symmetrical bandwidth to 100 percent of the operator's existing DOCSIS 3.1 footprint.
For its part, on Mar. 17, Calix announced that after successfully deploying its first FTTH system in rural Westfield, Pennsylvania, cable operator Blue Ridge has selected the Calix Intelligent Access EDGE solution as the transformation catalyst for rebuilding its 8000 miles of existing cable plant.
The Calix Intelligent Access EDGE platform, powered by the company's software-defined modular Network Innovation Platform (AXOS), and its innovative DOCSIS Provisioning Connector (DPx), will deliver 10Gbps to Blue Ridge’s entire service area of 250,000+ homes passed.
By leveraging Calix’s software platforms, Blue Ridge is anticipating major OPEX savings of up to 50 percent as well as significant reduction in energy consumption of up to 90 percent over DOCSIS/HFC.
“Calix cloud and software platforms, systems, and services enable BSPs of all types and sizes to innovate and transform their business,” said Mark Dressler, senior vice president, global sales, for Calix. “Broadband service providers like Blue Ridge Communications increasingly recognize the need to invest in fiber as more and more of their subscribers shift to broadband-centric experiences. They need to bridge their operations from older coax networks to high-speed symmetrical broadband. Thanks to the power of Calix Intelligent Access EDGE, Blue Ridge Communications can reconfigure its network architecture without impacting operations, providing a seamless path from legacy coax to a future-proof fiber network that will serve its communities for decades to come.”
Teaming with Calix to satisfy customer demand for high-speed symmetrical broadband will provide Blue Ridge subscribers with broadband service 10 times faster than that of their current DOCSIS service, resulting in an increased quality of customer experience (QoE), as noted by the partner companies.
“We always have our eye toward the future, and with this decision, we are looking to future-proof our network,” said Mark Masenheimer, Blue Ridge’s vice president of operations. “We believe the need for speed and bandwidth will continue to increase as more and more people work, learn, and are entertained at home. Fiber allows for ultra-fast symmetrical speeds and increased network reliability as well as the added environmental benefits of lower power consumption. It is the next logical step in the evolution of our network. The key is for our customers to enjoy a first-class broadband experience for years to come and the close partnership forged between our team and Calix throughout the Westfield deployment and the initial rebuild has been key to that enablement.”