Allied Telesyn, a global provider of secure Ethernet/IP access solutions and an industry leader in the deployment of IP Triple Play networks over DSL and Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) access infrastructures, announced the industry's first commercial deployment of a GEPON (Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network) FTTH solution for integrated IP Triple Play services.

Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) is the most future-proof broadband access technology capable of delivering any imaginable media-rich and interactive portfolio of services such as multichannel high-definition TV (HDTV), providing lower OPEX than copper and is a critical step towards a sustained competitive advantage for operators and service providers. GEPON is a passive point-to-multipoint FTTH technology allowing service providers and cable operators (MSOs) to transition from a copper based last mile network to a fiber based infrastructure while eliminating active electronics from the outside plant (OSP). Bandwidth-wise, GEPON standards support burstable Gigabit speeds to a subscriber, although typical deployments provide symmetrical data deployment rates of 32Mbps to many subscribers.

Compliant with IEEE 802.3ah Ethernet-in-the-first mile (EFM) standards, Allied Telesyn's GEPON FTTH solution enables service providers to deliver over a passive FTTH network high-speed voice, data and video services to residential and business subscribers. Key technologies in Allied Telesyn's GEPON solution are the iMAP integrated Multiservice Access Platform with OLT line cards for deployment in central offices and OSP enclosures and iMG intelligent Multiservice Gateways providing ONU terminations.

The RUS-accepted iMAP integrated Multiservice Access Platform is an environmentally-hardened access solution that delivers carrier-class next-generation and traditional telco services over IP. Available since 2001 and now powering over 100,000 IP Triple Play ports, the iMAP is a world-class last mile access and Ethernet transport solution providing high density modules for POTS, xDSL, T1/E1, Ethernet, active and now GEPON FTTH technologies. Recently voted the #1 OSP IP DSLAM by Heavy Reading (IP DSLAMs: Heavy Reading's Competitive Report. August 2005), Allied Telesyn's iMAP offers unmatched system flexibility through the ability to 'mix and match' different networking technologies within the same platform.

Jeff Heynen, directing analyst for broadband and IPTV at Infonetics Research, acknowledges the industry-leading flexibility offered by the iMAP and iMG ONU/OLT combination solution for next-generation FTTH deployments. He says, "As more service providers roll out high-bandwidth voice, data, and video services, GEPON will be an essential FTTH access technology to ensure consistent quality of experience. By adding GEPON support to the iMAP and iMG product families, Allied Telesyn uniquely allows service providers to economically and efficiently address their entire subscriber base with any access technology."

Each iMAP GEPON service module consists of two GbE fiber ports and supports up to 64 IP Triple Play subscribers per OLT line card. A Fully populated iMAP 9700 system serves in excess of 1000 FTTH subscribers from one OLT system. The GEPON iMG646 next-generation ONU terminal supports video-optimized and secure 6 x 10/100 LAN connections for data and video services as well as integrated Voice-over-IP based phone ports for connecting up to 4 standard telephones.

"Allied continues to be the first in deploying true carrier-grade IP Triple play services on the iMAP and iMG product families," said Philip Yim, executive vice president of global marketing & product development. "Both platforms provide service provider manageability, reliability and scalability and are a cost-effective alternative to conventional PON solutions," Mr. Yim added. "Leveraging our core competencies in fiber, optical electronics and Ethernet, we continue to be the Ethernet and access technology leader by being first to deploy integrated IP Triple Play services across GEPON FTTH last mile access."

"Our IP triple Play GEPON FTTH solution is superior in both cost and performance to older ATM and TDM technologies based on BPON and significantly ahead of earlier GEPON solutions which only provide data access. The reality here is that only Allied Telesyn can deploy true IP Triple Play solutions based on xDSL and FTTH, both in active Ethernet and GEPON technologies."