Springboard Jumps on Occam

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Occam Networks Inc. (OTCBB: OCCM), a supplier of innovative Ethernet and IP-based loop carrier equipment to telecommunications companies worldwide, today announced that Springboard Telecom has chosen its Broadband Loop Carrier (BLC) platform to provide voice and high-speed data services to residential and business subscribers.

The BLC system will be deployed initially to deliver service to a new urban development in south Charlotte, N.C. called "The Town of Ayrsley," which combines residential, commercial and retail facilities. Springboard, a competitive carrier in BellSouth territory, was chosen to be the preferred telecommunications provider for The Town of Ayrsley, which includes a closed fiber optic network that will ultimately enable it to take fiber to the premises of every customer in the 140-acre development.

"Ayrsley is a unique 'first-class' development, and we chose the Occam BLC platform because we needed to provide more than just standard services to our Ayrsley customers," said Rich Brashear, general manager of Springboard Telecom. "We're excited about the IP capabilities of the BLC because they give us the opportunity to provide additional softswitch-enabled services, IP-Centrex and Virtual PBX services, and more."

Along with its IP functionality, the flexibility of the BLC system was a key factor in Springboard's decision to select the Occam equipment.

"We found that we can install the BLCs and provide any kind of service we plan to provide on a common platform with carrier-class redundancy," said Brashear. "In addition to standard voice services, we can provide DSL, native Ethernet, and also serve customers with traditional T-1s if they prefer."

The decision to select Occam was also influenced by Occam's Ethernet-based platform, which integrates easily into the Ayrsley network infrastructure. Because the development is served by a Gigabit Ethernet fiber optic ring backbone, it is simple to use the BLCs to hand off Ethernet services, such as transparent LAN service, to customers. Transparent LAN allows Ayrsley business customers to benefit from Ethernet connectivity between separate buildings, creating the appearance of a single LAN and eliminating the need for routing over traditional circuit-based facilities not optimized for data.

"Springboard has gained the reputation of providing the highest-quality most cutting-edge services to its customers, so we're pleased to be selected by them for such a unique project," said Russ Sharer, VP of marketing and business development at Occam Networks. "We look forward to helping the company expand its services as Ayrsley grows and draws attention as a model for advanced service provisioning."

Occam Networks Inc.