Rural Telecom Cooperative Utilizes Federal Stimulus Funding to Expand Regional Network With Force10 Ethernet Switching Platforms

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Force10 Networks, Inc., a global technology leader, today announced that the Copper Valley Telecom (CVTC) has selected Force10 Networks to help it continue its overall network expansion in an effort to deliver enhanced broadband services to its rural customer base in Alaska. CVTC deployed Force10 S-Series™ Ethernet access switches to enable the efficient aggregation and delivery of network services over their existing telecommunications infrastructure.

CVTC was recently awarded funding from the USDA Broadband Initiative Program (BIP). BIP grants serve to facilitate the deployment of new or improved broadband Internet facilities and equipment so that these new networks help to ensure sustainable community growth and provide the foundation for enhanced household and business broadband Internet services. CVTC is utilizing Federal stimulus funding to expand its network by providing advanced data and voice services to underserved rural users.

Leveraging Federal Funding to Extend Force10 Networks Footprint

Prior to deploying the S-Series, CVTC deployed several Force10 transport and access products for its primary inter-office fiber and microwave links.

"As a longtime customer of Force10's Traverse product line, we were confident that they would provide highly reliable, cost-effective Ethernet switching capabilities," says Gary Farrell, Switching & Network Manager CVTC. "The S50 paid immediate dividends by providing scalable Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) aggregation for our gateway platforms, giving our network the low-latency performance it needs for delivering advanced data and voice services to our customers."

The S50 provides non-blocking, line-rate switching to meet the performance requirements of the most demanding network, while including architectural features that optimize network efficiency. The compact, high-density S50 switch provides 48 GbE access ports and up to four optional 10 GbE uplinks in just 1-RU. The S50 runs on the modular Force10 Operating System (FTOS™) software, which delivers the inherent stability that is required in aggregation deployments.

"From a unique perspective, rural telcos such as CVTC place a high premium on reliability and responsiveness," says Arpit Joshipura, chief marketing officer, Force10 Networks. "As a result, CVTC has turned to Force10 Networks because of our consistent ability to deliver unmatched reliability and performance across a breadth of product lines as well as top-notch customer service."

About Force10 Networks

Force10 Networks is a global technology leader that data center, service provider and enterprise customers rely on when the network is their business. The company's high performance solutions are designed to deliver new economics by virtualizing and automating Ethernet networks. Force10's high density and resilient Ethernet switching and routing products increase network availability, agility and efficiency while reducing power and cooling costs. Force10 provides 24x7 service and support capabilities to its global customer base in more than 60 countries worldwide. For more information on Force10 Networks, please visit www.force10networks.com.

Force10 Networks, the Force10 Networks logo, Force10, E-Series, Traverse, and TraverseEdge are registered trademarks and ExaScale, S-Series, TeraScale, FTOS, Open Automation, JumpStart, SwitchLink, SmartScripts, and HyperLink, are trademarks of Force10 Networks, Inc. All other company names are trademarks of their respective holders.

SOURCE Force10 Networks, Inc.