enet's fibredirect broadband service for Irish businesses to leverage Calix FTTP gear

Broadband access network equipment provider Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) says it will supply its Calix E7-2 Ethernet Service Access Platform (ESAP) and P- and T-Series fiber services gateways to enet, a private company that operates and manages a nationwide fiber-optic network for the Irish State. The company will use the equipment to support the rollout of its "fibredirect" fiber-enabled wholesale services for ISPs targeting small and medium-sized businesses across Ireland.

enet is responsible for Ireland's open access Metropolitan Area Networks, middle-mile infrastructure that connects 94 towns and cities across the country. It initially served the main service providers, and now also will target local ISPs with fibredirect, particularly those who seek connections to small and medium-sized businesses.

Claremorris, in County Mayo in the western part of Ireland, is the first fibredirect market. Local ISP Airspeed Telecom has already begun using the GPON infrastructure to offer broadband access at speeds up to 250 Mbps. enet has announced plans to extend the service to Kilkenny, Loughrea, and Ardee in the near future.

Calix is supplying the equipment in partnership with Irish network systems integrator Agile Networks. It also will supply elements of the Calix Advantage Program, which combines network management systems, software upgrades, and technical support across the Calix Unified Access portfolio.

"We had looked at a number of vendors to provide a suitable solution for our 'fibredirect' product, and early in the selection process it became clear that the Calix/Agile partnership was the right fit for enet,” said enet's network engineering manager, Jim Molony. “With the 'bundled' approach of the Calix Advantage Program, which took out many cost variables, and the straightforward procurement process, it made doing business with Calix and Agile very easy. The scalability options offered with the E7 platform give us the flexibility to grow locations to match rollout needs without disruptive re-provisioning in order to scale up."

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