Korean network provider Unizone Technologies Inc. evaluates passive optical network from Optical Solutions Inc.

Optical Solutions Inc. has announced that Korean-based Unizone Technologies Inc. is formally evaluating its FiberPath 400 passive optical networking (PON) solution. Unizone, a fast-growing manufacturer and marketer of high-speed Internet access network and transmission systems, serves Korea's largest telephone companies and is now expanding globally.

Korea is one of the fastest-growing markets for high-speed services. As of August 2001, more than seven million Koreans had high-speed Internet access. A significant portion of the growth is being fueled by gaming. Korea has 20,000-plus game rooms, which feature multiple computers and high-speed Internet connections, allowing "gamers" to enjoy fast-moving play action.

As part of its evaluation, Unizone is testing the switched digital video (SDV) capability as well as high-speed data service featured on Optical Solutions' FiberPath 400 series. FiberPath's SDV delivers instantaneous video streaming capabilities with crisp, life-like graphic images, claim company representatives.

"Our customers are demanding greater bandwidth, beyond that supported by DSL," contends Gueng-Back Won, president and chief executive officer of Unizone Technologies. "Field-proven, fiber-optic based solutions are in demand, so we were pleased to discover Optical Solutions' equipment--specifically their innovation in video applications."

FiberPath 400 is a next-generation, converged voice, video, and data platform that supports IP streaming video, blazing Internet data speeds, hundreds of channels of digital and analog CATV, and multiple carrier-class voice lines.

"Korea is finding that legacy copper networks simply can't produce sufficient bandwidth for gaming and other high-speed applications," explians Darryl Ponder, chairman and chief executive officer of Optical Solutions Inc. "FiberPath's speed and bandwidth capacity is ideally suited for this broadband-hungry nation, and we are tremendously excited to be part of this growth phenomena."

For more information about Optical Solutions Inc. (Minneapolis, MN), visit the company's Web site at www.opticalsolutions.com.