Calix Transforms 700GE ONTs Into Residential Services Gateways

PETALUMA, CA - Calix, Inc., a provider of fiber access solutions, announced the addition of downloadable home gateway software to the widely deployed Calix E7 Ethernet Service Access Platform, which enables 700GE optical network terminals (ONTs) to transform into residential services gateways (RSGs). Through a simple software download available free of charge to Calix Advantage customers, hundreds of thousands of Calix indoor and outdoor 700GE ONTs deployed in conjunction with E7s at hundreds of communications service providers can be upgraded with award-winning home gateway software to support subscriber managed home networking services.

The simple transformation of 700GE ONTs to RSGs provides a variety of potential benefits to service providers. Deployment of a home gateway model allows service providers to eliminate the need for an external router in the home, simplifying the home network and removing extra cost and management headaches. Home gateway software also enables new service and revenue opportunities in the home, such as whole home digital video recording (DVR), by providing a central coordination point for content distribution and management. This home gateway software upgrade is available to all Calix customers who are currently enrolled in the Calix Advantage Program, a powerful yet simple program unique to the communications industry that packages world-class technical support, element management, and software upgrades across the entire Calix Unified Access portfolio as a single annual fee.

Remote Management Equals Lower Operational Costs
The combination of home gateway functionality and Calix Consumer Connect software creates additional opportunities for new revenue generating services and lower operational costs by allowing service providers to remotely manage and support the entire home network. Leveraging industry standard protocols, service providers can use this home gateway software to extend the access network into the home and become a "virtual technician" to their subscribers. Instead of resorting to costly truck rolls, Calix customers deploying Consumer Connect and home gateway-enabled RSGs can remotely provision services, centralize firmware management, manage ongoing device maintenance, and troubleshoot network issues virtually. Visibility into the home network also gives service providers the ability to offer targeted service packages based on subscriber needs including Wi-Fi network management, content filtering, and firewall maintenance. All of these additional benefits provided by the combined RSG and Consumer Connect solution may allow service providers to lower subscriber churn and increase customer satisfaction.