Meriton Wins WDM Deals
OTTAWA -- Meriton Networks Inc., the leading provider of carrier-class
wavelength networking systems, and Pioneer Telephone Cooperative Inc.
announced today that Pioneer has successfully deployed Meriton’s managed
High-Speed Metro (HSM) services architecture. Pioneer is the largest
telephone cooperative in Oklahoma and the third largest cooperative in the
United States. Pioneer is a multi-service communications company with more
than 140,000 total customers/members in 30 counties. Pioneer provides an
array of communications products and services, including Cellular, DSL,
Long Distance, Internet, Paging, Security Systems, Key System
Sales/Maintenance and Directory Advertisement.
The products used for Pioneer’s network included Meriton Networks’ 3300
OSU (Optical Services Unit), 8300 EMS (Element Management System) and 8600
NMS (Network Management System). The initial installation covered 90 miles
through five central offices allowing for a cost effective network
expansion. Future installations will follow as fiber usage grows beyond
existing capabilities.
“The Meriton Networks HSM architecture is a good fit for our network,”
said Michael Baustert, division manager of network engineering, planning
and design at Pioneer Telephone. “Meriton offered the best overall
solution that addresses our immediate needs, as well as provides a
cost-effective, platform that accommodates extensions and additions in the
years to come.”
“We are very pleased to have been chosen by Pioneer Telephone as the
foundation for their new services and network expansion efforts,” said
Mike Gassewitz, president of Meriton Networks. “To be selected from 11 WDM
vendors is a tremendous validation that we bring unique and compelling
value to service providers.”
In a separate release:
OTTAWA -- Meriton Networks Inc., the leading provider of carrier-class
wavelength networking systems, and Fidelity Communications Company
announced today that Fidelity has successfully deployed Meriton's managed
High-Speed Metro (HSM) services architecture. A diversified Competitive
Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) that delivers a broad range of
communications services to businesses and consumers throughout Missouri,
Fidelity will expand its service offerings to include Video-on-Demand
(VOD), a value-add service heavily demanded by its customer base.
Adding Video-on-Demand services presented a few challenges to Fidelity,
however. First, to accommodate the increased traffic volume, Fidelity
Communications needed Gigabit Ethernet transport. This meant adding
capacity to their existing SONET rings. To address the issue of fiber
constraint, Fidelity Communications evaluated Wavelength Division
Multiplexing (WDM) solutions, in addition to various SONET offerings.
Second, Fidelity needed a solution that was cost-effective, and that would
scale as their customer base and service offerings expanded. Third,
Fidelity wanted a solution that was flexible enough to allow it to extend
to regional networks.
"We have been extremely impressed with the capabilities of the Meriton
team and the HSM architecture," said Mike Davis, senior vice president
with Fidelity Communications. "The transparent nature of the architecture
means that we can be first-to-market in our service area with innovative
services such as Video-on-Demand, and be well positioned to address the
future needs of our customers."
"Fidelity Communications has built an extraordinary reputation for
providing its customers with world-class communications services," said
Mike Gassewitz, president of Meriton Networks. "We are very excited that
they have chosen Meriton Networks' HSM architecture as the platform that
will help them advance their business now and in the years forward."
In an additional release:
OTTAWA -- Meriton Networks Inc., the leading provider of carrier-class
wavelength networking systems, and Sho-Me Technologies, the fiber optics
subsidiary of Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative, announced today that
Sho-Me has selected Meriton’s managed High-Speed Metro (HSM) architecture
for its high-speed regional backbone network. With nine cooperative member
utilities, Sho-Me Technologies has an advanced optical network that covers
600 miles. Also, Sho-Me provides critical connectivity in the 20-member
Cooperatives’ Broadband Network, an advanced optical network that covers
Missouri, Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas. The sales agreement between
Sho-Me and Meriton encompasses all 20 members of the Cooperatives’
Broadband Network.
“As a result of our strong growth over the last six years, fiber
exhaust was an issue, and it was clear that to add capacity to our
network, the use of DWDM offered the most utility for the least
investment, ” said Kevin Hopper, Manager of Operations and Engineering for
Sho-Me Power. “Of all the DWDM options we explored, none came close to the
Meriton HSM architecture for cost-effectively meeting our switching,
capacity and maintenance needs.”
“Sho-Me Technologies is recognized as a technology leader within the
community of 2,000 utility telecom service providers in the United
States,” said David Shpigler, president of The Shpigler Group and director
of research for UTC, the organization that represents the
telecommunications interests of electric and gas utilities, water
companies, gas pipelines and other critical infrastructure entities.
“Sho-Me has positioned itself extremely well to take advantage of the
strong demand for affordable high-speed services.”
“Sho-Me’s success is a testament to their focus on deploying networking
solutions that are reliable, scalable and cost-effective,” said Mike
Gassewitz, president of Meriton Networks. “To be selected by Sho-Me for
its regional backbone network is a tremendous validation that the Meriton
HSM architecture offers compelling and unique value to service providers,
especially in the burgeoning ‘UTelco’ space.”
Meriton Networks
Inc.