Light Reading Insider Analyzes Passive Optical Networking for FTTP Deployments

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, [phone], ext. 105,

,or Dave Williams, Sales Director, [phone],

, both of Light Reading Insiders



Web site:  http://www.lightreading.com/

http://www.lightreading.com/insider

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