Zhone Goes for Triple Play 597023

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Zhone Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:TELM - News), the first company dedicated to developing the full spectrum of next-generation local loop infrastructure solutions, today announced a comprehensive suite of products that allow telephone companies to provide triple play voice, data and video and entertainment services to their subscribers over both the carriers existing outside plant and over their subscribers existing in-home wiring. In the carrier network, Zhone's Single Line Multi-Service product family utilizes the carriers existing copper plant while providing an elegant migration to new fiber deployments by utilizing common hardware and a common management system for both copper and fiber access media. This media agnostic approach allows the carrier to use existing copper loops and outside plant facilitates for rapid deployment while gradually evolving to a fiber based infrastructure. This premeditated migration to fiber allows carriers to sustain vital subscriber revenues while stemming the erosion of customer base to competitors.

At the home, Zhone's innovative Residential Gateway combines the functions of a DSL modem, router, Integrated Access Device and up to four video decoders in a single device that resides at the subscriber demarc. The Zhone solution eliminates the need for set top boxes and lowers deployment costs while enhancing usability and customer acceptance with rapid channel change. For the subscriber, Zhone's triple play solution -- utilizing existing inside wiring (copper and coax) and existing TVs, peripherals and electronic devices -- facilitates rapid installation by eliminating the need for rewiring.

Enhanced features include support for Conditional Access, Video-on-Demand and integrated interactive services for the most complete and competitive service offering available to carriers today.

"The drumbeat of competition has reached a crescendo where delivery of voice data and video is no longer an option for telephone operators," said Anton Wahlman, vice president of High-Speed Communications Technology at Needham & Company. "Unabated encroachment by cable operators has forced telephone carriers to respond with their own triple play solution that will operate over their existing copper infrastructure. Zhone's innovative Residential Gateway in combination with their SLMS architecture provides the armor and weaponry that carriers need to cost-effectively compete in the triple play wars."

"Zhone's new triple play voice/data/video products uniquely allow carriers to deliver the diversity of services required to compete while reducing deployment and operations costs," said Eric Presworsky, vice president of Product Management for Zhone.

Zhone Technologies Inc.