AUGUST 27, 2009 -- Occam Networks Inc. (search Lightwave for Occam) says that Farmers Telephone Cooperative (FTC), who previously selected and deployed the Occam BLC 6000 multiservice access platform (MSAP) to build out its broadband network, is now using Occam's latest Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and GPON FTTP options to deliver IPTV to its deepest rural and highest density service areas.
FTC is a local, multifaceted telecommunications company headquartered in Kingstree, SC. Serving more than 60,000 customers within a coverage area of 3,000 miles, FTC provides communications services to businesses and residents in Williamsburg, Lee, Sumter, Clarendon, and Florence counties in South Carolina.
"We serve an area that is enjoying significant growth. However, this presents challenges as our broadband service area is very diverse and presents complexities with reaching remote rural areas, while also servicing areas that are highly populated," said Richard Haddock, chief engineer for FTC. "As challenging as it is to deliver IPTV to a diverse geographic serving area, the Occam BLC 6000 MSAP overcame our deployment obstacles with a robust solution to handle all of our broadband needs."
Since FTC's deployment and installation of Occam's BLC 6000 System, FTC has successfully served over 3,500 video subscribers with MPEG4-based triple-play services including IPTV, while upgrading the company's 450 remote cabinets using Occam retrofit kits. FTC is now adding fiber-fed rural subscribers via the Occam GPON technology integrated in its BLC 6000 System to access IPTV. This GPON deployment uses the same Ethernet-based MSAP used in FTC's initial MPEG4 deployment, eliminating the need for a new system while providing greater scalability and more simplicity.
FTC has taken advantage of multiple technology options (DSL, bonded DSL, GbE FTTP, and GPON FTTP) available in the BLC 6000 MSAP to deliver IPTV to its subscribers. Bonded DSL, GbE, and GPON FTTP technologies are being used to reach the deepest and sparsely populated rural areas in FTC's footprint such as Turbeville, Lynchburg, Bishopville, and Greeleyville. To scale and reach densely populated service areas such as Sumter, Kingstree, Lake City, and Pocalla, DSL and GbE FTTP technologies are used.