Alma Communications Company Rings in New Year with Total Inteleflex 2.4 Gbps Passive Optical Network.

Missouri-Based Independent Taps New GPON Products from TelStrat([R]) for Complete Edge-to-Edge Access Network Rebuild with the Industry's Most Advanced FTTP Technology

PLANO, Texas -- During the final few weeks of 2006, nearly all the copper disappeared from Alma Communications Company's 80 square mile, 350 subscriber access network. And the folks at Alma couldn't be more excited. During that time, the Missouri-based, independent telephone provider worked closely with TelStrat and Finley Engineering to complete an entire rebuild of its aging copper access network with TelStrat's new Inteleflex 2.4 Gigabit Passive Optical Network products, the industry's most advanced Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) access solution. One of the first in the United States with 100% 2.4 GPON technology, Alma's new access network combines the Inteleflex BLC platform with TelStrat's new 2.4 GPON Optical Line Terminal (OLT) cards and new modular, expandable, standards-based Optical Network Terminals (ONTs).

"We went with GPON because we didn't want to maintain active electronics in the field," explained Andy Heins, general manager for Alma Communications Company. Outlining his company's reasons for selecting TelStrat's Inteleflex 2.4 GPON, Heins said, "We were on the cusp of 2.4 GPON availability and we elected to go with the newest breed of GPON. TelStrat's Inteleflex allowed us to easily transition from a copper infrastructure to fiber and provides the most advanced PON technology available today."

TelStrat's Inteleflex is a completely integrated, multi-service access platform, with POTS-to-PON flexibility that seamlessly supports everything from copper legacy systems to the most advanced 2.4 gigabit GPON FTTP capabilities, providing a seamless path to an all IP, all optical future. Inteleflex allows service providers to prepare for that future, easily mixing copper- and fiber-based services and migrating to pure fiber at their own pace.

Having last reworked its access network in 1972, Alma faced a daunting challenge. "We knew it was going to be a very tough endeavor for a small company to completely overbuild the entire exchange in less than a year," Heins stated. "TelStrat put their resources at our disposal, as we needed them, to resolve issues and to assist with installation in the timeframe we needed."

Finley Engineering Company Inc., which handled Alma's 1972 copper-based access network upgrade, was again chosen to design and project manage the optical rebuild. "Alma's copper plant had exhausted its useful life," said Larry Fausett, vice president for Finley. "This network needed to be a solution that would meet Alma's needs and goals for many years to come." The Finley team also worked closely with TelStrat to meet the 2.4 GPON cutover schedule's ambitious goals. "TelStrat worked hard to meet deadlines and help us get everything in service by year's end," said Fausett. He also appreciated the flexibility that TelStrat's solution provided, saying "One thing that's unique to TelStrat's Inteleflex is that you can put a 2.4 GPON card right next to any other service card in a remote or central office shelf."

Alma's Andy Heins is very happy with the end result. "There is a lot of new technology happening out there that could change a whole lot of perspectives down the road. More services are becoming a "pull" due to consumer technology and customer demand. We now have a network across the entire exchange where we can still provide traditional voice service, but also broadband access services which aren't limited by distance. The only limit is the customer's imagination."

Designed to exceed the most demanding converged communications and entertainment service delivery requirements, TelStrat's 2.4 GPON products enable service providers to deliver not just voice, data, and IPTV service, but high definition programming, video-on-demand, advanced interactive communications, and more. TelStrat's 'first to market, best to market' products are leading the industry in getting this technology into the hands of customers.

"2.4 GPON is the future of fiber-to-the-premises technology," said Sid Schmid, vice president and general manager of TelStrat's Access Business Group. "When you combine these new products with the industry's most comprehensive warranty, our live 24/7 support, and no-charge software upgrades, we believe our customers are best positioned to build revenue today and be ready for whatever is on the road ahead."

Alma's Andy Heins summed up his company's position this way, "There are some who would say that rural areas will never see fiber. We tell them, "Come to Alma and you'll see one of the most advanced access networks you can find."

About Alma Communications Company

Founded in 1912 in Alma, Mo., Alma Communications Company provides voice and data services to over 350 subscribers over in the town of Alma and surrounding farming community.

About Finley Engineering Company, Inc.

Finley Engineering Company, Inc. provides leadership in professional services for the telecommunications and power industry. The company's comprehensive capabilities have provided clients and partners with a single source of expertise since 1953. Finley has the capability to complete all phases of a project from the initial planning to the final working system. FEC maintains technological leadership by the integrated use of the most up-to-date instrumentation and software.

About TelStrat([R])

TelStrat provides communication solutions for wireline access networks and enterprise telecommunications environments. The company's innovative Inteleflex([TM])broadband loop carrier platform enables telecommunications providers serving smaller cities and rural markets to bridge today's circuit-switched networks and emerging packet-based services to deliver converged voice, data and video communication and entertainment services. Additionally, TelStrat offers the CallParrot([TM]) Business Call Recording portfolio enabling call center quality monitoring and business liability protection, and a variety of remote access products sold under the Nortel name. Founded in 1993 and consistently profitable, TelStrat has maintained an unsurpassed commitment to customers and their business needs. The company is headquartered in Plano, Texas. For more information, visit www.telstrat.com.

Copyright [c] 2007. All rights reserved worldwide. The TelStrat name and logo, the Inteleflex name and logo, and the CallParrot name are trademarks or registered trademarks of TelStrat International, Ltd. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.