Russellville's EPB SmartNet and Calix Bring Gigabit Services to Kentucky

PETALUMA, CA - EPB SmartNet, Russellville, Ky.'s municipally owned fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network, has deployed the CALIX E7-2 Ethernet Service Access Platform (ESAP) and 700GE family of optical network terminals (ONTs) for its new residential and business gigabit fiber network. With the launch of this 1 Gbps service on September 1, Russellville has become Kentucky's first gigabit city. Leveraging GPON technology, the gigabit service is now available to all of EPB SmartNet's residential and business broadband customers throughout the community.

"We are so proud to make Russellville the first gigabit city in the state of Kentucky," said Robert White, general manager of EPB SmartNet. "With a fiber broadband network, built on the future-proof solutions from Calix, residents and businesses alike will be attracted to our community. Now everyone can live, work, and play in Russellville while experiencing a gigabit lifestyle that is available to just a handful of communities in the whole world."

Upgrading to Gigabit Speeds without Replacing Broadband Access Equipment
Serving over 4000 utility customers and more than 1300 broadband customers, EPB SmartNet offers voice, video, and advanced high speed data services to the community of Russellville. Since its initial FTTP deployment in 2010, EPB SmartNet has relied on the Calix Unified Access portfolio to deliver all of its advanced broadband services. With its forward-looking vision, EPB SmartNet was able to leverage existing Calix infrastructure to upgrade customers to gigabit speeds without having to replace any of its broadband access equipment.

"As the leader in gigabit deployments globally, Calix has seen the benefits that gigabit services bring to a community like Russellville," said John Colvin, Calix senior vice president of North American sales. "With stimulated economic development, better education and public services, and a tech-savvy broadband lifestyle, gigabit services can truly transform a community. Through our partnership with EPB SmartNet on their gigabit network, we are looking forward to seeing what is next for the residents and businesses of Russellville, and the impact this world-class network will make on their lives. "

With the addition of Kentucky, Calix is now supporting 43 gigabit networks in 24 different states.