ADTRAN, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADTN) says it will supply its Combo PON fiber to the home (FTTH) technology to PAC Fiber. The Georgia-based broadband services provider will leverage the technology to bring 10G PON FTTH capabilities via XGS-PON in a deployment funded via the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF).
PAC Fiber, based in Bryan County, GA, plans to provide multi-gigabit broadband services to residents and businesses in neighboring Evans County. The county is known as a source of Vidalia onions, and many of the farms there could benefit from advanced agriculture systems, such as connected sprinklers, that rely on wireless internet to enable more precise, remote management. However, the county is now underserved, and the XGS-PON deployment will enable delivery of high-speed WiFi and related services.
“We’re in an age where connectivity is crucial to quality of life—especially in a pandemic where remote work, learning, healthcare and even social visits have gone virtual. But beyond that, broadband can connect communities to important opportunities that enable residents and businesses to thrive,” said Adam Kennedy, director for Claxton-Evans County Economic Development Authority. “We’re thankful for PAC Fiber and its broadband network. This advanced infrastructure will enable us to attract new industries, support existing businesses, and generate a brighter future for local families.”
“The difference between us and a Tier 1 operator is that we prioritize our community over revenue. When the pandemic hit, we put every consideration in place to support our local residents and businesses, even setting up hot spots in parks where students could stay in their car and remain safe while connecting to the internet to do schoolwork,” commented Noah Covington, director of operations at PAC Fiber. “We have partnered with ADTRAN for many years, and they always help us build the right network that is agile, reliable, and enables us to do these types of community initiatives, while keeping our prices competitive."
ADTRAN says its Combo PON technology enables PAC Fiber to take an evolutionary approach to 10G PON by supporting both GPON and XGS-PON on the same platform. “ADTRAN understands the economic and quality of life impacts fiber broadband can have on a community and the people that live there, and we’re excited to help bring better broadband services to Bryan and Evans Counties,” said Craig Stein, vice president of sales at ADTRAN. “We want all of our customers to have the ability to deliver high-impact fiber broadband services wherever it is needed to help businesses grow, students learn and communities prosper. ADTRAN’s Combo PON technology can play a key role in making the economics of higher-value fiber broadband services work for communities like those PAC Fiber serves.”
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.