OAKLAND, Calif. -- Zhone Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZHNE), a global leader in FTTx network access solutions, today announced that through a partnership with Connect Plus that Sitronics Information Technologies has deployed the Zhone MXK™ in the Siberia Federal District. Sitronics IT is an international IT company, and one of the leading suppliers of solutions, products and services in the field of information technologies in Eastern Europe and the CIS countries. The new network will provide telephone, internet access and digital television services to businesses and residents in the Omsk Region, Russia.

"GPON is rapidly replacing traditional copper wire communications and gives operators the ability to improve coverage quickly, and provide even the most remote cities with modern broadband services," said Leonid Kolpachev, director of telecommunication solutions, Sitronics IT. "The realization of this project provided us with an opportunity to design and implement a cutting-edge telecommunications infrastructure, and create a reliable platform for operators to provide the latest triple-play services." To date, Zhone has deployed more than 3,000 of its fully redundant, carrier-grade all-IP MXK platforms with more than 150 service providers in more than 40 countries. Zhone's MXK platform is a fully redundant, carrier-grade all-IP platform and the industry's first terabit access concentrator. Featuring industry-leading density, scalability and switching capacity, the MXK provides non-blocking capacity of up to 3,600 100 Mbps GPON subscribers or 360 1G Active Ethernet subscribers.

“The MXK deployment in Omsk is significant because it is a pilot project using GPON technology in the Siberian macro region,” says Brian Caskey, chief marketing officer for Zhone. “This project proves the ability of Zhone’s GPON technology to provide fast and efficient communications access to newly populated areas. Omsk is a major regional transportation hub and industrial center, so this deployment will lay the groundwork for developing a reliable communications network this remote part of the world. This deployment is evidence that system integrators globally continue to view Zhone as a leader in fiber access solutions.”

Zhone Technologies Inc.