March 22, 2005 Minneapolis, MN -- Optical Solutions (OSI), a provider of GPON networks, has announced that Benton Cooperative Telephone Company of central Minnesota has selected the company's FiberPath system to deliver triple-play FTTP services to several new greenfield additions in the communities of Rice and Milaca.
"We looked at a few other options for our network expansion, but ultimately Optical Solutions proved to have the most developed solution on the market," explains Duane Wentland, operations manager at Benton Cooperative. "We also have a high degree of confidence in their capabilities based on the number of satisfied telcos using the OSI product here in Minnesota. Independent telcos are a tight-knit group, so word gets around when something is working well."
The cooperative is deploying the company's FiberPath 500 platform, which the company says is among the telco industry's first Gigabit PON systems for local access markets. According to the company, the platform is capable of delivering IPTV, above 100-Mbit/sec data speeds, and multiple telephone lines. The system fully complies with ITU FSAN standards, and, according to the company, is currently operating in more than 130 communities throughout North America.
The cooperative currently serves 5,000 telephone subscribers in a growing bedroom community just north of St. Cloud, MN. This spring, the cooperative will launch FTTP voice, high-speed data, and digital video services to as many as 300 new homes in its Rice exchange. At the same time, Milaca Local Link (Benton's CLEC subsidiary), will deliver competitive FTTP voice, high-speed data, and digital video services to several dozen new homeowners in the Milaca area.
"We are pleased to have been selected for Benton Cooperative's expansion project, and we applaud their vision in selecting a FTTP solution that will not only future-proof their network, but will markedly enhance the quality of life for residents in these communities," concludes Mike Dagenais, president and CEO of Optical Solutions.