July 20, 2005 Marlboro, MA -- Fiber Optic Network Solutions (FONS) today announced that Monmouth Independence Network (MINET), an Oregon-based public broadband utility, has selected the FONS Pathways outside plant (OSP) platform for the construction of an expanded passive optical network that will deliver advanced FTTP services to residential neighborhoods and businesses in the cities of Monmouth and Independence, Oregon, and surrounding areas.
FONS says its Fiber Distribution Hub (FDH) products will be deployed in the utility's network to provide rapid connection between fiber-optic cables and passive optical splitters, facilitating fast service connection and reconfiguration. The company's FDH products will be supplied to the utility through Anixter, a value-added distributor of wire, cable and communications products.
According to a press release, the first phase of the MINET system was completed in March of 2003 when the primary fiber-optic ring was built and activated, providing voice and data services to city offices and businesses, Western Oregon University, and public schools located close to the fiber route that passes through central areas of both cities. The second phase of the network's deployment involves extending fiber lines to all businesses and neighborhoods in both cities. Between the two cities, the network is estimated to service a potential customer base of approximately 7,000 residents.
"This advanced FTTP network enables the delivery of new and improved services to the community that will promote growth in the residential and business sectors," remarks Phil Garrett, MINET Manager. "MINET is very pleased to partner with FONS to deliver advanced voice, video, and data services to every resident and business within our community."
FONS says its FDH products are designed to speed the deployment of fiber in the feeder and distribution cabling plant, enabling MINET to accelerate deployment of converged services over its network. The utility says it will deploy 216-fiber and 432-fiber configured FDH enclosures within its network, each equipped with low-loss optical connectors and optical splitters, and each available in either pole or pad mount arrangements. FONS says these enclosures provide the utility with easy access to its network for simplified service turn-up, maintenance, and testing, while providing environmental and mechanical protection for the cables, splices, connectors, and passive optical splitters. According to the company, for the utility, the key benefit of the re-enterable enclosure is that splitter ports contained within may be allocated efficiently for rapid interconnection of customer services.
"We are pleased that the MINET community will be able to enjoy the many new and enhanced services offered by FTTP networks, and that FONS has been able to be a part of such an exciting endeavor," concludes Michael Noonan, president and CEO of FONS.