Light Reading Insider Analyzes Passive Optical Networking for FTTP Deployments NEW YORK, April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The North American passive optical networking (PON) and fiber to the premises (FTTP) market may be hot, but it's going to get a lot hotter in 2005 and 2006, as an influx of new products and service provider RFPs add fuel to the fire, according to a new report from Light Reading (http://www.lightreading.com/). The report -- entitled "Passive Optical Networks: 21st Century Access?" and published by the subscription research service Light Reading Insider, (http://www.lightreading.com/insider) -- evaluates technology choices, vendor strategies, and the lessons to be learned from PON activity throughout the world. A bright future is expected for PON as the centerpiece of carriers' triple-play services over FTTP. "In the near term, greenfield deployments, especially by utilities and municipalities with long-term ROI expectations, will be the main addressable market," says Daro Clark, the report's author. "But FTTP will not result in higher RBOC capex; it will simply replace spending on legacy copper infrastructure." This report looks at the recent customer trends in FTTP/PON and explores the barriers to widespread deployment. The Insider's conclusions include: * The RBOC's choice of the BPON standard is the strongest validation of PON technology in the U.S. to date. * Verizon is the most ambitious RBOC, while SBC and BellSouth are less convinced of FTTP's short-term proposition. * Beyond the RBOCs, the opportunities are plentiful: Independent telcos, cable and utility companies, municipalities, and real estate developers provide PON vendors with a captive but fragmented market. * PON equipment prices will decline 20 percent to 30 percent in the next two years. * Regulatory uncertainty regarding RBOC unbundling commitments and other companies' rights to offer PON-based services is keeping in the industry at the bleeding edge. * With over 1 million FTTP subscribers and a projected 5 million by the end of 2005, Japan is the test bed for next-gen access networks. * The race is on between the EPON and GPON standards for industry acceptance, but ultimately the customers' existing network technologies will force their decisions. Private vendors analyzed in this report: Optical Solutions Inc.; Salira Optical Networking Systems Inc.; Alloptic Inc.; CEOS Pty Ltd., and Flexlight Networks Inc. Public vendors analyzed in this report: Advanced Fibre Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:AFCI), Alcoa Fujikura Ltd. (Jointly owned by Alcoa Inc. [NYSE: AA] and Fujikura Ltd.), Alcatel SA (NYSE:ALA), Fujitsu Ltd. (OTC:FJTSY) (BULLETIN BOARD: FJTSY) , andHitachi Ltd. (NYSE:HIT) The report is available as part of an annual subscription to the monthly Light Reading Insider, which is priced at $1,350. The subscription includes 12 monthly reports covering the hottest wireline equipment and services markets. Individual reports are available for $900. To subscribe, or to get more information, please visit: http://www.lightreading.com/ad_redirect.asp?ad_id=2623 About Light Reading Insider Light Reading Insider (www.lightreading.com/insider), an electronic research service of Light Reading (www.lightreading.com), provides independent analysis to investors and industry leaders tracking the latest developments in the telecommunications industry. Marketing Contact: Laura West Marketing Director Light Reading Insiders 212-925-0020 x105 Sales Contact: Dave Williams Sales Director Light Reading Insiders 415-293-8470 DATASOURCE: Light Reading CONTACT: Laura West, Marketing Director, +1-212-925-0020, ext. 105, ,or Dave Williams, Sales Director, +1-415-293-8470, , both of Light Reading Insiders Web site: http://www.lightreading.com/ http://www.lightreading.com/insider http://www.lightreading.com/ad_redirect.asp?ad_id=2623

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