Wave7 Optics, Inc. announced that Comporium Communications, the nation's 20th largest incumbent local exchange carrier and 50th largest cable TV provider, will deploy the Last Mile Link (LML) system from Wave7 Optics for an expansion of its fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network into the Pulte Homes 3,500-home "Sun City Carolina Lakes" residential development near Charlotte. Pulte Homes is the nation's largest new home builder by revenue.

Comporium, which has an "FTTP only" policy for all "greenfield" residential and business development, will begin connecting the Sun City homes in March 2006. The companies made the announcement at the Telco TV conference, taking place Nov. 8 - 10 at the San Diego Convention Center, where Wave7 also is exhibiting its product line in booth 818. Wave7 is a leading supplier of FTTP broadband network equipment for residential and business services.

As with its other LML-connected customers, Comporium will use FTTP to provide Sun City Carolina Lakes residents with voice, video and data services, which include up to four lines of telephone service, more than 150 channels of digital and High Definition television and broadband Internet service capable of speeds of 100 megabits per second. Comporium, based in Rock Hill, S.C., will combine its FTTP-related services with its wireless and security services for an industry-leading "quintuple play" bundle.

"Wave7 has such a strong product because it is IP-based and as such interoperates with our other core network and transport vendors, supports full quality of service for voice and IP video, and, importantly, also supports RF broadcast video -- all on a single fiber to the home," said Dan Smith, vice president of Engineering and Planning for Comporium. "This has provided us the flexibility of deploying IP Video today and also 'overlaying' RF Video for customers demanding advanced services such as multi-stream DVR and HDTV, which are just now becoming available on the IP side. Wave7 has proven to be very reliable and has provided exceptional after-sales support."

Having deployed the LML system since April 2004, Comporium has more than 25 FTTP developments deployed with another 55 currently planned, encompassing more than 13,000 subscribers.

"FTTP has more capability than competing technologies to deliver incredibly compelling video services - VOD, HDTV, IPTV and more," said Tom Tighe, CEO of Wave7 Optics. "Video service can differentiate carriers very nicely from their competition, and the LML positions Comporium well for the future in terms of available bandwidth, network reliability, security and intelligence."