GPON market leader Optical Solutions Inc. has been awarded a contract with Telepak Networks of Jackson, Mississippi, to deploy that state's first FTTH network. Residents of Roxie, approximately 80 miles south of Jackson, will receive a triple-play offering of voice, data and IPTV video starting later this year.

Telepak Networks is a diversified communications company serving small-town Mississippi with Internet, telecommunications, cable-TV and network services. The company maintains nearly 1,800 miles of fiber optic backbone, which it is leveraging in this FTTH build-out.

"We have a 50-year history serving small communities in Mississippi, and we're eager to continue that tradition by being the first to introduce an advanced network that will not only enrich peoples' lives, but create new economic opportunities as well," said Steven Meadows, sales manager at Telepak Networks.

Meadows also noted that Telepak's transition from aerial to buried cable is fortuitous in light of the Gulf States' recent hurricanes. "Most telephone and cable providers here have yet to make the transition to underground networks, so the potential for catastrophic service interruption - as seen with Katrina - remains a real threat for many residents and business owners."

Telepak will deploy Optical Solutions' FiberPath 500 system - the first commercially available GPON system in the industry, and the leader in live deployments. The FiberPath 500 offers unparalleled bandwidth for delivery of advanced services, including integrated VoIP, symmetrical high-speed data service and IPTV, as well as traditional services such as TDM voice and RF video. The FiberPath 500 system is fully compliant with ITU FSAN standards, and is the

"We applaud Telepak's dedication and service commitment to the people of Mississippi," said Optical Solutions President and CEO Mike Dagenais. "By introducing FTTH to underserved communities, Telepak is helping those who were once left behind get on a fast-track to greater opportunity and a better quality of life."