Hardy Telecommunications Strengthens Affiliation with Zhone to Provide Connectivity in West Virginia.

Zhone Technologies, a supplier of FTTx network access solutions, said that it has expanded its relationship with Hardy Telecommunications to include a new broadband-stimulus funded project that, in cooperation with Zhone's partner Goldfield Telecom, will provide both fiber and copper connectivity to the underserved rural mountain communities of Hardy County, West Virginia.

In a release, the Company said that starting in early 2011, the community-owned telecommunications cooperative will use its MXK intelligent Gigabit Passive Optical Network solution and Zhone network interface device optical network terminals to deliver Internet access, VoIP and video services as part of the Hardy OneNet Fiber to the Home project. The entire project will be funded by the $34.8 million in broadband stimulus grants secured during the first and second rounds of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act disbursements.

"Given the significant business growth we've experienced since first partnering with Zhone in 2009, they were a natural fit to consider for the access needs of our new broadband stimulus project," said Scott Sherman, general manager of Hardy Telecommunications. "After extensive evaluation, we realized that Zhone's MXK platform best met our requirements for a high capacity backplane and delivered the switching capacity necessary to meet the high bandwidth capabilities and service quality we have set for the Hardy FTTH network."

"Ideal for the fiber architecture and service models of Hardy, Zhone's high-capacity and industry-leading MXK system is once again taking a central role in an important North American deployment," said Brian Caskey, chief marketing officer for Zhone. "The broadband stimulus initiative has given rural communities access to what may have been an otherwise unattainable next-generation broadband solution. As America sets its sights on bridging the technology and broadband divide, Zhone is helping build the advanced communications and entertainment network of the future in regions with limited connectivity to date. Zhone is pleased that its U.S.-manufactured broadband solutions have proven to be core contributors to the enablement of advanced services across the country."

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