EPB Electric Power in Chattanooga to construct fiber-to-the-business network using the Last Mile Link system from Wave7 Optics
10 December 2003 Chattanooga, TN Lightwave -- Wave7 Optics announced they will provide their Last Mile Link network and premises connection equipment for a business Internet service from EPB Telecom, a division of EPB in Chattanooga, one of the nation's largest publicly-owned utility companies. The all fiber network, which is already operational, will provide a minimum of 1.5-Mbit/sec service for voice and data services (e.g., 10/100 Ethernet), with the capacity to add video at a later date.
With this new network, EPB Telecom will be able to provide up to 500-Mbit/sec symmetrical upload and download service on a customized per subscriber basis for business customers. A 500-Mbit/sec connection would represent approximately 300 times the bandwidth of a typical T-1, DSL or cable modem connection in the United States.
The Last Mile Link is an IP (Internet protocol) and Ethernet standards-based optical access system that provides carrier-grade telephone services, high-speed data and both analog and digital video. Featuring security encryption techniques and quality of service mechanisms designed for business applications, the Last Mile Link overcomes the high-fiber counts, limited distance range and high central office equipment costs that have stymied the growth of fiber-to-the-x systems. It also uses standard data, telephone, T1/E1 and CATV interfaces at its customer premise devices accommodating existing telephone, television and computer systems, meaning customers do not have to buy new equipment to get on the new all-optical network.
"Of all the systems we considered, only Wave7's could get us up and running at the price points we needed," said Larry Hinds, vice president of EPB Telecom. "Businesses will now have the option to move large amounts of information at much higher speeds, with increased security protection and unmatched reliability for a price that's extremely affordable. And with virtually unlimited expansion potential, customers that receive the service will have the flexibility to easily upgrade as their business and service needs grow. This immediate scalability will allow them to request a service upgrade with a simple phone call, and they can continue to add the bandwidth they need to continuously and effectively conduct their business."
Wave7 Optics will deploy Last Mile Core equipment for central office and field installations and their Last Mile Gateway premises equipment over the next few years as both the service area and number of subscribers expand.
"This deployment shows that fiber-to-the-business networks can be done affordably and relatively quickly," said Tom Tighe, CEO of Wave7 Optics. "A number of service providers have fiber deployed near business clusters in the suburbs, downtown urban areas and elsewhere. As it can be deployed in active or passive configurations, the Last Mile Link allows service providers to leverage their existing fiber plant in the most cost-effective way to deliver direct optical broadband services to their business customers."
A non-profit agency of the City of Chattanooga, EPB was established in 1935, with the sole purpose of providing electric power to the people of the greater Chattanooga area. Today EPB is still one of the largest publicly-owned providers of electric power in the country and a provider of innovative and highly-reliable telecommunications services, connecting nearly 160,000 residents and hundreds of businesses in a 600 square-mile area that includes greater Chattanooga as well as parts of the surrounding counties and areas of north Georgia.