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Washington Public Utility District Expands Network With World Wide Packets; Island Businesses Enjoy the Full Power of New Gigabit Ethernet Network

Posted on: Tuesday, 24 May 2005, 09:00 CDT

World Wide Packets, the leading provider of Ethernet Access Networking Solutions, announced today that Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (OPALCO) in San Juan County is using its LightningEdge(R) solution to deliver data to businesses, schools, medical facilities and governmental offices on the county's four largest islands San Juan, Orcas, Lopez, and Shaw. As part of the network deployment, World Wide Packets solution is interoperating with OPALCO's existing Cisco SONET backbone network.

Unlike many traditional FTTX deployments the Island Network runs over submarine cables, presenting a unique installation challenge. Orcas Power and Light worked in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to ensure that environmental guidelines were followed and that the massive cables could be deployed cost-effectively and on schedule. Currently 26 cables connect the islands to provide electricity and data connectivity, with the first fiber cable laid in October, 2004.

In February, 2005 Orcas Power and Light introduced VLAN connectivity to government and municipal buildings in Friday Harbor, the seat of San Juan County government. The rural electric cooperative has allocated space for co-location so that service providers throughout the chain of islands can offer all business and residential customers a range of new applications, including video and voice.

"Creating an FTTX network will allow us to keep up with the evolution of new content that can be delivered to enterprises. We want to be able to provide for existing businesses and also attract new companies to the islands," said Beth Anderson, Manager of Island Network and Technical Services for OPALCO. "World Wide Packets' LightningEdge was the best fit for cost, performance and interoperability to extend broadband connectivity from the Cisco SONET backbone and enable the delivery of new services not previously possible."

"This rollout is yet another testament to power of collaboration between public and private entities for better economic growth and diversity," said Chad Whalen, Senior Vice President of Business Development, World Wide Packets. "It's encouraging to see public entities like OPALCO take control of their future by securing the funding necessary to deploy this advanced fiber network that will enable service providers to reach more customers with services not possible on their existing networks. By embracing a model which helps new market entrants deliver a wide range of services, OPALCO has brought a higher level of access to enterprises and residents in San Juan County."

About World Wide Packets

World Wide Packets LightningEdge(TM) Ethernet service delivery access network solution, enables delivery of simultaneous telephony, business and entertainment video, broadband data, and Internet access services, to any combination of business and residential subscribers, using Ethernet over fiber and copper medium. By bringing together the limitless bandwidth capabilities of a fiber infrastructure with the affordability and proven performance of Ethernet, these networks eliminate the constant bandwidth challenges now facing network operators. World Wide Packets is a privately held corporation, and a recognized pioneer of Ethernet geographic network solutions. For more information on World Wide Packets, please visit www.worldwidepackets.com.

Access Brilliance, Ethernet to the Subscriber, ETTS, Fiber to the Subscriber, FTTS, LightningEdge, World Wide Packets and the World Wide Packets logo are trademarks of World Wide Packets Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Source: Business Wire

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