Voljatel picks Zhone for optical services deployment

September 20, 2005 Oakland, CA -- Zhone Technologies today announced that Voljatel Telekomunikacije (VoljaTel), a carrier based in Slovenia, has selected Zhone's Multi-Access Line Carrier (MALC) and GigaMux 1600 optical transport products to offer consumers and small businesses an alternative to traditional telephone services through Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology.

Voljatel, among the first commercial providers of IP telephony in the Slovenian market, says it is deploying the MALC to offer subscribers voice and data services including POTS, ISDN, and ADSL2+. Zhone says its GigaMux optical transport products extend these capabilities with the addition of co-existing Gigabit Ethernet and SDH services.

"By leveraging Zhone's flagship Single-Line Multi-Service architecture we are able to offer customers throughout Slovenia full-featured, cost-effective calling plans," says Tom Cof, technical director of Voljatel. "Customers will receive a new telephone number from Voljatel's number block and will be able to manage their phone connection with a user-friendly interface on Voljatel's website. Comprehensive management tools, like IP Centrex, will also be made available to our businesses' customers so they can enjoy simplified truncated dialing."

"Zhone continues to demonstrate leadership in targeted segments of the broadband market," adds Mike Scheck, vice president of global sales at Zhone. "Achieving milestones, like providing crucial infrastructure for Central Europe's rapidly-expanding telecom market, reinforces our expectations of continued strength for the company."

Zhone says its combined access platforms are available in a range of chassis sizes and port counts supporting from 2880 ports in a single cabinet to 24 ports in a remote 1U DSLAM. Optional weather hardened outside plant enclosures and line powered capabilities allow service to be delivered across a carrier's entire serving area.