ADC intros new FTTX central office service pack.

ADC introduced recently a new Service Pack to help speed FTTX (Fiber to the X) deployment by optimizing a carrier's central offices (COs) for FTTX. The FTTX Service Pack is a bundle of professional services that helps carriers determine whether their COs are FTTX ready, and if not what changes need to occur to ensure the CO can properly and efficiently handle the higher capacity demands that FTTX deployments create.

"Often people think of FTTX as an outside plant initiative, but the CO is vital in delivering broadband services," said Barb Majerus, vice president of the Professional Services Organization for ADC. "The CO is a critical distribution point for the network, and FTTX will create new demands on the CO. If the CO isn't FTTX ready, then the entire network downstream from the CO can be adversely affected."

Examples of how FTTX deployments impact the CO include:

--Space demands within the CO as higher-density fiber frame and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) equipment require more space than traditional telephony equipment

--Required changes in the infrastructure to support higher-density equipment

--Changes in demands for electrical power

The FTTX Service Pack includes professional services to address these and other issues related to FTTX deployment. The Service Pack features a readiness assessment to determine if a CO is FTTX ready, or needs minor or major modifications to support FTTX. Depending on the outcome of the assessment, ADC can then implement other services within the Service Pack to prepare the CO for FTTX deployment.

"By using the FTTX Service Pack, carriers can ease and speed up their deployments as the COs are prepared in advance," Majerus said. "As well, ADC can help carriers increase the overall reliability of their COs, lower their overall deployment costs and improve flexibility and scalability at the CO. Rather than look at COs on an individual basis, we believe we can help carriers improve and enhance their services on regional or national levels by implementing the FTTX Service Pack."

ADC provides a broad range of professional services to help operators increase the capacity of their networks, more effectively manage their assets and maximize their network infrastructure.