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Buckeye CableSystem Deploys Internet Photonics' Equipment in New Multi-Service Network for VOD and Commercial Services

Posted on: Monday, 6 October 2003, 06:00 CDT

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. and SHREWSBURY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 2003--Internet Photonics Inc.

LightStack Platforms Cost-Effectively Delivering New

Services over Multiservice Network

Internet Photonics Inc., a leading developer of carrier-grade Optical Ethernet and Intelligent Wavelength Platforms for cable operators and telecommunications providers worldwide, today announced that Buckeye CableSystem, a top 25 cable operator and competitive local exchange carrier, has become the latest cable operator to deploy Internet Photonics' LightStack platforms to provide optical access, switching and transport for a new multiservice network delivering video on demand (VOD) and commercial data services.

Buckeye, with over 150,000 subscribers across parts of Ohio and Michigan, is deploying the LightStack GSLAM, LightStack MX and LightStack MXA throughout its network to deliver VOD to residential customers and Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and SONET services to small and medium sized businesses. Internet Photonics' equipment was selected because it features the simplicity of Ethernet, the manageability of SONET and the scalability of 10G DWDM. This unique combination enables Buckeye to deliver advanced services over a multiservice transport network, significantly reducing their capital and operational costs and network complexity.

"Unlike the typical approach of offering new services over separate networks, we wanted to build a true multi-service network that had the features and scalability needed to satisfy our current subscribers and grow with demand," said Joe Jensen, CTO, Buckeye CableSystem. "After surveying the market, Internet Photonics was the vendor that best matched our needs - real products and proven expertise in SONET, Optical Ethernet and the granular service management required to meet our residential and commercial service requirements."

Rather than build out the VOD over multiple SONET rings on multiple fiber pairs, Buckeye is leveraging the LightStack's VirtualWire(TM) capabilities allowing the LightStack products to map 8 GbE channels onto a single 10G DWDM wavelength. Additional wavelengths can be added to the same fiber pairs if more capacity is needed. For VOD service, the LightStack GSLAM aggregates GbE streams from a bank of centralized VOD servers in the headend and sends it on a 10G wavelength for transport across the network. In the hubs on the other end, a LightStack MX separates the GbE streams and sends them to the appropriate QAM device for delivery to the customer. For SONET transport, Buckeye is deploying the LightStack MXA with the new SONET/SDH Services Module (SSM) and integrated CWDM to consolidate multiple SONET rings onto a single fiber pair.

"We've very proud to be part of Buckeye's strategy to grow their business by delivering advanced services to both their residential and commercial customers," said Gregory Koss, president and CEO, Internet Photonics. "As both a large cable operator and a competitive telecommunications provider, Buckeye demonstrates Internet Photonics' unique ability to deliver flexible, scalable and affordable solutions in both the cable and telco markets."

Another key differentiator for Buckeye is the SONET-like service and network management capabilities of Internet Photonics' LigthStack Network Control System (NCS). From this common management platform, Buckeye can manage all of their VOD, GbE and SONET transport services using unique embedded channel management and performance reporting capabilities to support service monitoring, rapid fault isolation, and remote troubleshooting. The LightStack products also come with Internet Photonics' market-Leading availability - in the event of a network fault, detection and protection switching within 50 microseconds is guaranteed, which is 1000 times faster than SONET/SDH.

About Internet Photonics

Internet Photonics, Inc. is an innovative growth company delivering the first carrier-grade Intelligent Wavelength Platforms, which allow network operators (service providers and cable MSOs) to sell profitable high-bandwidth data services alongside existing legacy services. The company's products are scalable, simple to install, and provide carrier-grade reliability and manageability. Overall, the Internet Photonics solution portfolio consists of seven products that generate revenue from customers in both the cable (passing close to 5.5 million homes) and telco markets. Investors include The Sprout Group, ComVentures, Telesoft Partners, AT&T and New Venture Partners LLC, formerly the New Ventures Group at Lucent Technologies. For more information, please visit www.internetphotonics.com.

About the Buckeye Companies

Buckeye CableSystem serves about 135,000 customers in the Toledo metropolitan area and another 20,000 in the Sandusky area about 75 miles to the east through a sister company, Erie County Cablevision, Inc. Buckeye offers some 230 channels of analog and digital entertainment and information as well as High Definition television and high-speed Internet access. Video on demand will be introduced early in 2004.

Buckeye TeleSystem, a competitive local exchange carrier, is a sister company and uses the same fiber infrastructure to deliver a myriad of telephony services to businesses throughout northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Among its voice and data customers are two large state universities, a medical college, several large school systems, and a number of Toledo's largest businesses.

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