OAKLAND, Calif. -- Zhone Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZHNE), a global pioneer in FTTx network access solutions, announced today that its industry-leading MXK(TM) multi-service access node (MSAN) system will serve as the core enabler of Telecom TZ's migration to Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) solutions in Moscow, Russia. Through the channel partner Connect Plus, a combination of the MXK and Zhone Network Interface device (zNID) optical network terminals (ONT) will also be deployed to support approximately 5 000 enterprise customers across the service footprint.
Telecom TZ was previously leveraging a Broadband PON (BPON) solution to deliver voice, video and data services to its customers in the city. However, the Russian operator primarily serves enterprise customers and is experiencing an increased demand for faster speeds among its most bandwidth-intense business services -- signaling the need for more flexibility and better performance capabilities across its more than 5000 kilometers of fiber network.
"GPON significantly improves the triple-play experience for business customers," explained Brian Caskey, chief marketing officer at Zhone. "In fact, GPON's unique high-bandwidth capabilities will likely encourage operators -- and give them the expanded resources -- to launch future-focused, revenue-generating services that are coming into demand by the healthcare, energy, first responder and hospitality sectors, among others."
Telecom TZ began integrating Zhone's MXK terabit access platform into its network in September 2010 after a two-month trial and expects the upgrade project to be complete in the second quarter of 2011. Zhone's MXK platform is a fully redundant, carrier-grade all-IP platform and the industry's first terabit access concentrator. It features industry-leading density, scalability and switching capacity and provides non-blocking capacity of up to 3,600 100 Mbps GPON subscribers or 360 1G Active Ethernet subscribers.
"Zhone's GPON solutions are giving us a high level of flexibility in both our service options and system configuration options that wasn't available with our existing BPON network," said Angelo Tozzi, president, Telecom TZ. "With our expanded bandwidth capacity, we are now able to more efficiently deliver the high-quality advanced services that will elevate our competitive position and accelerate our growth strategy in the coming months. Zhone's portfolio of zNID ONTs and the MXK help us extend our reach with our business customers."
Zhone Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: ZHNE)