Independent Telephone Companies Select Elastic Networks Intelligent IPDSL Solutions
Business Wire - November 14, 2000 12:27
ALPHARETTA, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 14, 2000--
42 Rural telcos adopt EtherLoop technology for broadband service rollout
Elastic Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: ELAS) today announced that 42 independent
telephone companies in the United States and Canada have purchased
EtherLoop(TM)-based solutions to provide high-speed Internet access in
their local service areas.
Among the most recent companies to select Elastic Networks
next-generation DSL technology are Liberty Communications, Breda
Telephone, Southeastern
Indiana Telephone, Bretton Woods Telephone, Sharon Telephone, Clarence
Telephone, Panora Telephone, Newport Telephone, Hay Communications,
United
Telephone Association, People's Communications/Xcelco, Clay County Rural
Telephone, Green Hills Telephone, Somerset Telephone, Cumberland
Telephone,
Mornington Communications, Quadro Communications, HuronTel, Nicholville
Telephone, and Granby Telephone.
"We are committed to providing the solutions our partners need to meet
the challenge of the new, interactive Internet," said Guy Gill,
president and CEO of Elastic
Networks. "Elastic Networks' technology is proving itself in the market
place. The pent-up demand for high-speed Internet access solutions, and
the inability to meet
this demand using conventional xDSL technologies, has created a
tremendous opportunity for innovative new technologies like EtherLoop.
We are taking full
advantage of this opportunity."
Telephone companies serving rural or widely dispersed markets were among
the first to standardize on the Elastic Networks' EtherLoop technology
for its extended
reach of 21,000 feet, bi-directional bandwidth up to 4Mbps, ability to
work over "dirty" copper, low cost deployment, and reliable performance.
Rural telcos have
benefited from Elastic Networks' award winning speed-up America
initiative, which focuses on EtherLoop-based solutions to bridge the
broadband `digital divide' in
rural communities.
Increasingly, telephone companies and other service providers have come
to value EtherLoop's spectral compatibility - a unique capability that
allows EtherLoop to
overcome the interference, or `crosstalk,' generated by other services
in a binder cable, such as T-1 or ADSL. This enables service providers
to successfully deploy
EtherLoop DSL where conventional xDSL services fail and eliminates the
need for binder management.
"The two main issues facing rural DSL providers are long loop lengths
and inconsistent quality of the copper infrastructure," said Matt Davis,
senior analyst for the
Yankee Group. "Our research suggests that technologies that can address
these issues will enable carriers to substantially increase their DSL
service coverage.
EtherLoop is one such technology that can effectively address these
network challenges."
"You can have every customer on EtherLoop without the problem of
`crosstalk,'" commented Craig Bieber, controller for Liberty
Communications in West Liberty,
Iowa. "We looked at several [DSL] equipment vendors but when we compared
flexibility of services, we chose Elastic Networks. EtherLoop overcomes
the
problem of contamination in the binder group."
"We're very excited about our EtherLoop based DSL roll out and the fact
that we are able to provide service levels our neighboring Bell
operating company doesn't
offer," said Craig Mock, general manager of United Telephone Association
in Dodge City, Kansas. "We looked at several different technologies but
chose
EtherLoop because our staff and technicians can install it easily and,
when you turn it on, it works. Ethernet is gaining new momentum as the
technology of choice for
next generation IP networks and we like the fact that EtherLoop is based
on Ethernet."
The rapid adoption of Elastic Networks' central office and outside plant
solutions is further accelerated by the new Storm System family of
intelligent IP-based
products. The EtherLoop-based Storm System offers a simple and efficient
end-to-end IP solution to power bandwidth intensive interactive
applications such as
toll-quality Voice over IP; secure, network-based VPNs; scaleable
multicast audio and video streaming; high-speed interactive gaming; and
localized web hosting.
The MicroBurst remote IP mini-DSLAM enables telcos to cost-effectively
deploy broadband services from digital loop carriers and other remote
network devices
that until now, have been a bottleneck to high-speed service delivery.
The Storm System also provides exceptional levels of control for network
managers, enabling
them to remotely monitor service levels and allocate bandwidth by IP
across their customer base.
About Elastic Networks Inc.
Elastic Networks (NASDAQ: ELAS) is a leader in innovative,
next-generation DSL technology and high-speed Internet access solutions,
enabling
telecommunications service providers to easily offer affordable
broadband services that simplify the way people connect. By leveraging
its technological
differentiation in speed, deployability, and economics, and by building
strategic relationships with distributor, chip manufacturing, and data
networking partners,
Elastic Networks continues to increase the pervasiveness of its
innovative technology in markets throughout the world. The company has
offices in Alpharetta, GA,
and Hong Kong.
For more information about Elastic Networks and its high-speed access
and subscriber management solutions, visit www.elastic.com,
www.speedupamerica.com,
or contact Elastic's U.S. headquarters in Alpharetta, Georgia, directly
at (678) 297-3100. For investor information, e-mail Elastic at
irinfo@elastic.com, or call
(678) 297-3100.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain of the statements contained in this release are forward-looking
statements (rather than historical facts) that are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those described. With
respect to such forward-looking statements, the Company seeks the
protections afforded by the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These risks include,
without limitation, (1) that the Company may fail to be competitive with
existing and new
competitors, (2) that the Company may not maintain or grow its level of
revenues, given its currently limited customer base, (3) that the
Company's limited number of
product offerings may fail to achieve widespread market acceptance, (4)
that negative changes in customer demands and requirements regarding our
prices,
technology and products may occur, (5) that DSL technology may fail to
achieve widespread market penetration, (6) that interruptions or
disruptions in our product
shipments and/or our various arrangements with our distributors,
manufacturers or resellers may negatively impact our ability to make
sales and/or minimize our
costs, (7) that the Company may not adequately respond to technological
and regulatory developments impacting the telecommunications industry,
(8) that needed
financing may not be available to the Company if and as needed, (9) that
a decline in the size and potential growth of the MTU, carrier and
international markets for
our technology may occur, (10) that a significant reversal in the trend
toward increased usage of the Internet may occur, (11) that a drastic,
negative change in the
U.S. economy or market conditions may occur, and (12) that some other
unforeseen difficulties may occur from time to time. This list is
intended to identify certain of
the principal factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those described in the forward-looking statements
included elsewhere herein. These
factors are not intended to represent a complete list of all risks and
uncertainties inherent in the Company's business, and should be read in
conjunction with the more
detailed cautionary statements included elsewhere in the Company's most
recent filings with the SEC.
CONTACT: GCI Group
Melissa Davis, 404/870-6790
mdavis@gcigroup.com
or
Becca Brett, 404/898-1643
bbrett@gcigroup.com |
