Wave7 Optics Inc., the world's leading supplier of IP video and point-to-multipoint Ethernet PON FTTP (fiber-to-the-premises) systems for residential and business services, announced that the Wabash Mutual Telephone of Celina, Ohio has selected Wave7's "Last Mile Link" (LML) fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network equipment to deliver a high-quality triple play of IP-based voice, television and data services to residential and business customers in areas outside of their Celina "central exchange" area. WMT currently has 1300 access lines in its service region.

Consisting of an "overbuild" in areas currently served by Verizon and Adelphia, network construction will begin as early as July 2005 and some customers could begin receiving service as early as August 2005. A typical service package will comprise 150 channels of IP television, 30 music channels, one or two phone lines and a data service up to 5 Mb/s symmetrical.

"We believe IP-based services over an FTTP platform are the way of the future and we believe the Last Mile Link provides the best means for our customers to get there," said Mike Boley, General Manager of WMT. "Wave7 offers several decisive factors, but one in particular we like is the option to deploy their OLT unit (the Last Mile Core) in the field closer to our customers, as it meets and surpasses industry specs for field-hardened equipment. Their built-in service redundancy and single-fiber architecture are also notable features."

"We are proud that Wabash Mutual has selected the LML for the new FTTP network, particularly for IPTV, as Wabash will be among the first in Ohio to offer this service," said Emmanuel Vella, Chief Marketing Officer, Wave7 Optics. "IPTV is new for all service providers and Wave7 drastically simplifies it by optimizing network efficiency with multicast video and by providing application-based traffic priority to ensure that all services work together without interference. We also feature IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) support to the side of the home and offer enough bandwidth for all of today's services, including high definition TV, with more bandwidth in reserve for any future needs."