JANUARY 18, 2008 -- Occam Networks Inc. (search for Occam Networks) has been selected by FairPoint Communications Inc as the lead access equipment provider for a major broadband upgrade of FairPoint's network in northern New England once the proposed acquisition of Verizon's wireline business in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine is closed.
"The FairPoint selection committee combined with an independent engineering firm to conduct a thorough evaluation of the leading access equipment providers," reports Peter Nixon, president of FairPoint. "Occam was selected based on superior product features, their unique capability to handle the scale of our project, and the strong track record they have compiled with our FairPoint properties over the years. We've made firm commitments to expand broadband to the residents of Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire," he says, "and we are confident our partnership with Occam will equal success."
Defined as a multi-phase upgrade project, the first phase will include building redundant 10-Gigabit Ethernet rings to over 200 Central Offices throughout the three-state region. Phase two will add over 50,000 DSL lines to rural areas that previously did not have broadband service.
"The Occam equipment positions FairPoint to deliver high-speed broadband services over both copper and fiber to residential and business subscribers," notes Michael Brown, vice president of access networks at FairPoint. "We wanted an end-to-end IP network using the best-in-class equipment, and Occam outperformed all other vendors."
"FairPoint's challenge and commitment to deliver superior broadband and Ethernet services to Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire is shared by all of us at Occam," adds Nathan Harrell, Occam's vice president of worldwide sales. "We can deliver the products and services that FairPoint requires while building a 21st Century infrastructure on Ethernet."
The proposed acquisition has received regulatory approval from the Federal Communications Commission and is awaiting formal approval from the Maine Public Utilities Commission. The Public Service Board in Vermont and the Public Utilities Commission in New Hampshire have yet to rule on the transaction.
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