Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) has unveiled the Ethernet eXtensible Architecture (EXA) Powered E3-48C sealed Ethernet Service Access Node (ESAN). Part of the company’s Unified Access portfolio, the E3-48C is for fiber to the node (FTTN) applications that leverage existing copper infrastructure.
The E3-48C supports 48 ports of "combo" VDSL2 and POTS services and eliminates the need for overlay of legacy digital loop carrier (DLC) voice services, Calix asserts. The environmentally hardened system also will support bonding and vectoring. It can be deployed in a variety of topologies, including fiber rings, point-to-point, and daisy-chain. It also can be powered via AC, DC, or remote sources.
Other features include:
- Two 10 Gigabit Ethernet/1 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) uplinks and three GbE/2.5GbE uplinks with 802.1w rapid spanning tree protocol (RSTP) and 802.3ad link aggregation
- RSTP ring support
- Layer 2 switching and forwarding and Layer 3 awareness
- Integrated IGMP v2 and v3 snooping and proxy for IPTV
- DHCP relay and snooping for network security
- Service prioritization via IEEE 802.1Q VLANs and 802.1p support
- Support for multiple service delivery models, including VLAN per service, VLAN per port, or hybrid
- Integration with the Calix Management System (CMS) for network visibility and management.
"Even though we've been able to make the case for pulling fiber all the way to the home in some parts of our network, there are other areas where leveraging VDSL2 is just good business," said Steve Long, vice president of outside plant and engineering at Atlantic Telephone Membership Corp. (ATMC) in Shallotte, NC. "We've analyzed the whole spectrum of broadband plant enhancement options, and we've found that the Calix E3-48C sealed ESAN offers a powerful and efficient solution for service providers like us to snap into existing 10GbE networks, reduce loop lengths, and enable advanced broadband services delivery to subscribers today, while also offering the option for bandwidth enhancement technologies like bonding and vectoring in the future. The beauty is that whatever path we choose to take toward network and business transformation over copper and fiber, Calix has us covered."
For more information on FTTx equipment and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.