Infinera ATN gains RUS listing for deployment under federal rural telecom rrogram

NOVEMBER 20, 2009 -- Infinera's ATN metro edge platform has been accepted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Program as suitable for deployment under the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) telecom programs.

The USDA's Rural Development Telecommunications program provides loans and grants to support the extension of broadband networks into rural areas and to support distance learning and telemedicine initiatives. RUS capability to promote broadband networks was expanded this year by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which appropriated $2.5 billion to the RUS, out of a total broadband stimulus budget of $7.2 billion, to extend broadband networks to unserved and underserved communities nationwide.

The Infinera ATN platform is a compact, scalable metro edge platform offering flexible configurations intended to simplify and accelerate network deployment. The ATN has been designed to offer high density and low power consumption, and to support all metro transport services, including Ethernet, SAN, SONET/SDH, OTN, and video services. Seamless integration with the Infinera DTN platform enables an end-to-end Infinera network to deliver ease of operation, capex savings, integrated bandwidth management, and the power of a single network management system, says the company.

Infinera is supporting customers nationwide who have applied for grants to build broadband networks to unserved and underserved communities, including anchor institutions such as schools, higher education, and health-care facilities. Infinera networks scalability at the middle mile with low-cost, simple operations for the new wave of broadband networks. The ATN has been purchased by large and small service providers in the U.S. and overseas. Last month, Deltacom announced it had deployed the ATN in several metro markets in the southeastern U.S.

"RUS listing is an important milestone for the ATN, as it will make it easier for small, rural telecom companies and other broadband consortia to deploy the ATN and take advantage of its powerful advantages in speed, simplicity, and flexibility," says Paul Morkel, Infinera's director of product applications.

The DTN, Infinera's optical system for long-haul and metro core networks, was approved for RUS listing in February 2009.


Visit Infinera