Allied Telesyn Access Solution Enables IP Video Transport for Rural North Carolina ILEC; Wilkes Telecommunications Chooses Allied Telesyn Integrated Multiservice Access Platform, Routers for IP Video Deployment.

BOTHELL, Wash. -- Allied Telesyn, a global provider of secure Ethernet/IP access solutions, has announced that Wilkes Telecommunications, an ILEC located in rural North Carolina, has chosen Allied Telesyn's integrated Multiservice Access Platform (iMAP) to enable new IP video services over ADSL2+.

The RUS-accepted iMAP integrated Multiservice Access Platform is a NEBS-certified, environmentally-hardened access solution that delivers carrier-class ADSL2+ services over IP and accommodates both fiber and ADSL 2+ in a single platform.

With an 18-month deployment schedule that began this spring, Wilkes Telephone will be installing Allied Telesyn products into 58 locations, including a network core and four exchanges that accommodate more than 12,000 total access lines. The company cites flexibility, feature set and price as the deciding factors to go with an Allied solution.

"We had RFPs from six vendors," said Bob Hileman, Wilkes Telecommunications' Plant Manager, "which we narrowed down to Allied Telesyn and one other company. We brought both solutions in for equipment field trials. In the end we chose Allied based on the quality and capability of the equipment, as well as the value."

Wilkes will deploy a new ADSL2+ network built using Allied Telesyn's iMAP and Layer 3 Ethernet/IP switch platforms. The ILEC's goal was to deploy packetized IP-over-Ethernet video services, while reutilizing as much of the embedded fiber and copper as possible to minimize OSP costs. Previously, the access network was Sonet, ATM and TDM-based.

Wilkes Telecommunications has been the local telephone company serving Wilkes County since 1958. The ILEC was created by local citizens to bring basic telephone services to rural areas of Wilkes County at time when none existed, owing to the higher costs and lack of profits in serving rural areas of North Carolina. The company is installing the IP access network to enable next-generation "cable-tv" channels, video-on-demand, pay-per-view and higher-speed DSL services to its largely residential subscriber base.

"One big reason we chose the Allied solution was the flexibility of the solution," said Hileman, "We needed a system that could deal with more than one middleware at once. Also, we have plans to expand and implement more IP services. We needed a system flexible enough to grow with us over time."

"Wilkes Telephone needs an access transport solution that can roll with the changes," says Allied Telesyn Executive Vice President of Marketing and Product Development Philip Yim, "and that is the iMAP. It's the ideal solution for ILECs, not just because it is IP-based, which gives it remarkable flexibility, but also because of the carrier-grade IP chassis-design. It supports a broad selection of plug-and-play applications that we are always expanding as technology evolves, including xDSL, FTTx, POTS, VoIP, T1/E1, SHDSL, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, and 10G transport. It lets ILECs migrate to new IP technology without forklift upgrades."

Quality of support was another key reason Wilkes chose Allied Telesyn.

"We've been really impressed with Allied's support team," says Bob Hileman, "They've been terrific not only in deploying their own solutions, but in helping us to sort out issues in integrating other pieces of the puzzle, such as middleware."

"My Allied Telesyn team treats our network like it is theirs," he explains. "They work to solve issues even when those issues don't start with Allied's products. The support has been really remarkable, and in today's world of convergent networks: support matters."

For more information on iMAP and other Allied Telesyn products, please call 800-424-4284 or visit http://www.alliedtelesyn.com

About Allied Telesyn, Inc.

Allied Telesyn was founded in 1987 with the goal of producing reliable, standards-based networking products. Focused on secure Ethernet/IP access solutions, Allied Telesyn offers carrier-class access-edge products including Layer 3 switches, fiber/copper Multiservice Access Platforms, and CPE. We're also a leading global manufacturer of media converters, unmanaged switches, and NICs. Our customer-driven approach has made Allied Telesyn the ideal choice for IT professionals looking for high-quality, feature-rich network solutions at a lower price.