Wightman Telecom Transforms Its Network To FTTH Using Pannaway's MAGNM Platform

Portsmouth, NH - Pannaway Networks, a leading supplier of next generation Ethernet/IP Multi-Service Access Platforms for telecommunications service providers, recently announced that Wightman Telecom has selected its award-winning Service Convergence Network (SCN) architecture to complete its last-mile network transformation from twisted-pair copper to Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH). Pannaway's MAGNM-20, recognized as the industry's highest performance Ethernet/IP Multi-Service Access Platform (MSAP) and Broadband Access Manager (BAM) have seamlessly and cost-effectively enabled Wightman to migrate its legacy broadband copper Ethernet and circuit-based network to a next generation all Ethernet/IP Active Point-to-Point Ethernet network.

Based in Ontario, Canada, Wightman is a 16,000-subscriber Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC), which also has Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) areas and provides Internet Service Provider (ISP) and Interexchange Carrier (IXC) services, providing voice, data and video to residential and business customers in 17 southwestern Ontario-based exchanges.

"Our outside plant was a combination of twisted pair copper and fiber for the last mile, while our core network is entirely fiber-based with a combination of Ethernet and TDM gear. TDM is currently about 20 percent of our network, whereas IP is 80 percent and still growing. Five years ago, these percentages were reversed," explained Tom Sullivan, general manager of Wightman Telecom.

Wightman turned to Pannaway to complete their network replacement process. Through their partnership, Wightman is taking full advantage of the cost savings afforded by their new FTTH network, such as lower maintenance costs and increased longevity of their fiber infrastructure. The all-Ethernet/IP network will provide new revenue opportunities, as the telecom can now offer more competitive services to their business and residential customers.

"We looked at a number of other suppliers taking into account all the things that were important to us, such as support, product and platform architecture, total cost of ownership, ease of doing business, ability to maintain a strong relationship and longevity. Pannaway was the best choice," Sullivan said. "Pannaway's MAGNM supports copper and fiber ensuring the future protection that we require and their broadband management technology is far more advanced than anything we'd seen from other suppliers."

"Pannaway is excited to be the choice of companies like Wightman Telecom who recognize the value of network evolution as a way to stay competitive and better serve their customers," said Ed Buchner, vice president of corporate marketing for Pannaway. "We remain committed to enabling telcos like Wightman to evolve their network easily and cost-effectively -- at-will."

SOURCE: Pannaway Networks