Occam Networks Expands Into Canada with Wightman Telecom

IOC Selects Occam BLC and MetaSwitch to Deliver POTS, High-Speed DSL to Ontario

 

Santa Barbara, CA: May 9, 2005. Occam Networks Inc. (OTCBB: OCCM), a supplier of innovative Ethernet- and IP-based loop carrier equipment to telecommunications companies worldwide, today announced that it has expanded its service offerings into Canada. Ontario-based Wightman Telecom Ltd. has selected the Occam BLC 6000 System together with MetaSwitch's VP3510 Class 5 Softswitch to transition from its TDM equipment to IP- and Gigabit Ethernet. The joint Occam/MetaSwitch solution will deliver Lifeline POTS as well as broadband DSL data to customers throughout Canada's most populated province.

"Wightman's standardization on the BLC 6000 not only marks the introduction of Occam solutions into Canada but it also signals a new era of choice for customers throughout Ontario," said Russ Sharer, vice president of sales and marketing for Occam. "Just as Occam has brought value to independent telephone operators throughout the U.S., it now enables carriers in Canada to leverage our innovative BLC platform to deliver new, revenue-generating broadband services without incurring high capital expenditures or operating expenses."

Wightman Telecom is one of Ontario's leading independent telephone companies. The BLC 6000 enables Wightman to extend the reach of their Telco and CLEC to support new services created on IP-based platforms. The BLC 6000 combines subscriber DSL and Lifeline POTs with Gigabit Ethernet transport capabilities to enable voice, data, and video. The BLC 6000 is based on Occam's Intelligent Blade Interconnect Architecture (IBIA), which allows Wightman to expand its services to more customers quickly and cost-effectively.

"We selected the BLC 6000 based on Occam's depth of experience delivering tomorrow's cutting edge IP-based services today," said Rick Hill, Manager Network Operations for Wightman. "In addition, the BLC 6000 is widely deployed with MetaSwitch, offering us the reliability and legacy features we need while also providing new services, including IP video, to meet evolving customer demand."

To deliver its new higher speed DSL and IP-based services, Wightman is leveraging the 6252 blade with their installed BLC chassis. The BLC 6252 uses ADSL2Plus with Lifeline POTS service delivery on the same port to deliver voice, data, and video services. The combination of subscriber DSL and POTS ports with Gigabit Ethernet transport capabilities positions the 6252 blade as a highly efficient and versatile access solution to work with their MetaSwitch.

For the delivery of a next generation voice services over the Occam access network, Wightman is deploying a MetaSwitch VP3510 Class 5 Softswitch. The VP3510's combination of enhanced packet voice services and a full range of legacy capabilities has established MetaSwitch as the market-leading softswitch among the Canadian independent telephone community, 15% of whom have already adopted the solution. And, with more than a dozen service providers across North America selecting both MetaSwitch and Occam Networks for their network evolution, the vendors' joint solution is well proven in the field.

Sale and support of the BLC 6000 was managed by Dynavar Networking Inc. Canadian headquarters in Calgary, Alberta and US Headquarters in Bellevue, Washington is a systems integrator delivering multi-vendor, customer-driven voice switching, video, and data solutions across the Americas and around the world.

About Wightman Telecom Ltd.

As the telecom provider of choice for many Southwestern Ontario residents, Wightman Telecom provides local phone service in several exchanges as well as Internet, long distance, alarm, and security products and data networking. For more information, visit www.wightman.ca.

About Occam Networks Inc.

Occam Networks Inc. develops and markets innovative Broadband Loop Carrier networking equipment that enables telephone companies to deliver voice, data and video services. Based on Ethernet and Internet Protocol (IP) technologies, Occam's equipment allows telecommunications service providers to profitably deliver traditional phone services, as well as advanced voice-over-IP, residential and business broadband, and digital television services through a single, all-packet access network. Occam is headquartered in Santa Barbara, Calif. Additional information can be found at www.occamnetworks.com.

About MetaSwitch

MetaSwitch is the industry's leading vendor of packet-based Class 5 softswitch and enhanced applications solutions. Its widely deployed call agent, media/signaling gateway and application server platform supports over 100 Class 5 features including CLASS services, IP Centrex, Unified Messaging, E911, LNP, 1-800 and CALEA, and scales from a few hundred to half a million subscribers in both integrated and distributed configurations. Customers include incumbent and competitive local exchange carriers, as well as operators of broadband wireless, cable and fiber networks.

MetaSwitch is a division of established telecom technology provider Data Connection (DCL). The company is consistently profitable and privately held, with US locations in California, Virginia, Texas and Florida, and European headquarters in London, UK.

About Dynavar Networking

Dynavar is a Systems Integrator delivering multi-vendor, customer-driven voice switching, video and data solutions across the Americas and around the world. As a well-established, debt-free company, they offer reliable, best-of-breed customized services to meet diverse customer needs. Since 1994, Dynavar has built a solid reputation for crafting integrated solutions around superior technologies. Donavan's full range of solutions include: Broadband Access, Converged Networks, Data Networking, IP Services, Metro Networks, Optical Networks, Packet Core, Voice Switching and a great deal of expertise in Next Generation Networking. Dynavar's staff have expertise in the areas of technical analysis, design, development, implementation, integration and support for Service Providers and Enterprise.