OEN Launches Big FTTH Project

LAS VEGAS -- Optical Entertainment Network (OEN) announced today their plans to deploy fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) to over 1,600,000 households in Houston, Texas, the 10th largest television market in the U.S. The company, who has partnered with leading European and North American vendors plans to launch its United States service offering in December 2005 and begin European operations in Q2 of 2006.

The company has designed the first truly integrated IPTV service for Video, 10 to 100 Mbps Internet, Voice, Video-on-Demand (VOD) and other broadband applications such as, Home Security, videoconferencing and telemedicine. OEN has acquired programming agreements for IPTV distribution from top programming television networks and will deliver over 400 television channels, including 50 plus channels of High Definition Television (HDTV) to subscribers. In addition, OEN will offer video-on-demand, subscription video-on-demand, pay-per-view specials and events and original HDTV programming created by OEN Studios, the creative television production arm of Optical Entertainment Network.

"FTTH makes OEN unique among entertainment service providers", said Tom Wendt, President and CEO. "The marriage of FTTH and OEN's fiber technology allows our service to have the largest programming lineup of any multi-channel video provider in North America."

The OEN system provides state-of-the-art integrated services including standard and high definition television, Internet, telephone services and unified messaging. This network delivers innovative new applications such as, videoconferencing, gaming, telemedicine, niche programming, and connected learning to homes in the Houston area.

All of these services have been integrated into IP (Internet Protocol) architecture, designed specifically for Gigabit Ethernet FTTH systems.

"Other existing Fiber-to-the-Home deployments today are using traditional cable and telephone network technology from the legacy copper based systems", said Curtis Overstreet, Chairman of the Board and Chief Financial Officer, "Our system takes full advantage of the limitless bandwidth capacity offered by the latest in optical technologies to not only generate new revenues from innovative applications but to create some exciting new revenue generating business models such as advertising targeted at the household level".

OEN's first deployment partner is Phonoscope of Houston, Texas, owner of the largest privately held metro fiber network. Already the existing network reaches 200,000 household easements and is within 100 to 500 yards of approximately 1.6 million households in the 6 county areas around Houston. OEN which is already generating revenues from HDTV program production will have live subscribers from day one of this deployment.

"OEN has assembled the best partners in the industry for this venture, including key industry leaders in FTTH construction, engineering services, technology and in investment banking", added Thomas Wendt, "and we've been successful in marrying this infrastructure with the premier entertainment companies of the world", Wendt adds.

In a separate release:

LAS VEGAS -- Optical Entertainment Network (OEN) introduced their new service brand today - FISION at the 2005 Fiber-to-the-Home Conference & Expo. FISION will deliver Video, Internet and Voice, a convergence that consumers have anticipated for years. FISION, scheduled to launch in December 2005 in Houston, Texas, the 10th largest TV market in the U.S., will deliver over 300 video channels including 50 plus channels of High Definition Television (HDTV), video-on-demand (VOD) and original and specialty programming. In addition, FISION will deliver a minimum symmetrical High-Speed Internet at unprecedented speeds of 10 Mbps (equivalent to eight times T1 speed) per subscriber. FISION will also provide IP Voice services including local and long distance services, to deliver on the promise of true convergence from one company.

"We will deliver the very best entertainment, Internet and telephony services to our subscribers", said Albert J. Estrada, Chief Marketing Officer of Optical Entertainment Network, the parent company of the FISION service. "The 'Plus' in the 'Triple Play Plus' brings on-demand movies, events and specialty programming that allows each subscriber a convenient viewing experience filled with entertainment variety", adds Estrada.

FISION will provide popular entertainment TV channels such as Discovery, USA, Sci-Fi and Showtime along with an incredible array of on-demand pay-per-view services that features the latest hit movies, yesterday's classics and independent masterpieces. FISION's network features optimal FTTH technology capability, which allows for robust bandwidth delivery of popular TV services, 10 to 100 Mbps Internet service and IP Telephony services.

"FISION is the next evolution in home entertainment", said Thomas Wendt, President and CEO. "Our unlimited bandwidth capacity will provide an unmatched entertainment experience coupled with Internet speeds that were previously reserved for enterprises. FISION residential subscribers will compare our offerings with incumbent providers and see that our value proposition makes more entertainment and economic sense", adds Wendt.

"We've accumulated the best team of professionals in the FTTH and IP technology industries and combined them with leaders in the Entertainment and Customer Service sectors to ensure that FISION delivers a service that goes far beyond what customers expect from their existing video and telephone providers", said Curtis Overstreet, Chairman of the Board and Chief Financial Officer.

Optical Entertainment Network