Optical Solutions Inc. drives fiber-to-the-home in Iowa

Optical Solutions Inc. announced that Guthrie Telecommunications Network Inc., a competitive local exchange carrier owned by Panora Cooperative Telephone Association Inc., has selected the FiberPath fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) platform from Optical Solutions to overbuild the community of Guthrie Center in West Central Iowa.

Iowa is now home to two such fiber-to-the-home projects. Neighboring Huxley Cooperative Telephone Company also recently announced that it will roll out a fiber optic network to residents of Huxley, Iowa.

Optical Solutions' FiberPath is a complete fiber-optic solution that encompasses three sets of equipment: a central office bay, which can be co-located with a Class 5 switch or interconnected through a GR-303 interface; a passive optical network (PON), and a customer premise node. The central office bay sends and receives laser-driven light signals through optical fiber cables to and from a patented residence-mounted node via a passive optical network. The customer premise node converts the optical signals into electronic signals needed for subscribers' existing telephones, televisions and data modems.

Construction of the FTTH system in Guthrie Center will begin in April. Based on the results of a preliminary survey, Randol anticipates a high percentage of citizens and businesses in Guthrie Center will sign up for services. A full suite of voice, video and high-speed data services will be offered.

About Optical Solutions Inc.:

Optical Solutions Inc. offers its patented FiberPath fiber-to-the-home solution, which incorporates a passive optical network (PON) for broadband delivery of voice, video and high-speed data directly to the home and broader community. Optical Solutions' customers are facilities-based service providers including independent telephone companies, competitive and incumbent local exchange carriers, utilities, municipalities and housing developers. For more information, visit www.opticalsolutions.com.