9.6.07 — APA Cables & Networks Maximizes Flexibility for OSP Fiber Deployment
New Cross-Connect OSP Cabinet Provides an Industry-Leading 864 Feeder/Distribution Ports
Minneapolis, MN, September 6, 2007—APA Cables & Networks (APACN), a leader in fiber management solutions and wholly owned subsidiary of APA Enterprises (NASDAQ: APAT), today announced an 864-port cross-connect OSP cabinet, a new component of the APACN Fiber Scalability Center (FSC) Platform. By allowing technicians to deploy fibers in increments of twelve in a field-defined feeder/distribution ratio, the APACN solution enables the user to incrementally add fibers as needed and alter the feeder/distribution ratio as field conditions warrant.
This cabinet is easily adapted to the needs of fiber deployment for a telecommunications, cable-TV, as well as interconnection requirements of a business/premise project. As part of the APACN Fiber Scalability platform, the APACN cross connect cabinet protects the user’s initial investment as it can later be converted to a PON cabinet or an APACN PON cabinet can be converted to the new Cross Connect solution.
“Due to rapid build-out of some of our territories and aggressive marketing to our client communities, SureWest’s fiber connectivity requirements change constantly,” explains Scott Barber, vice president of network operations for SureWest Communications, a leading independent telecommunications holding company that has served the Northern California region for more than 90 years. “The APACN Cross Connect solution was a perfect option for us because we can change the feeder/distribution ration virtually on the fly. This gives us the flexibility to rapidly turn-up new customers without sinking money into excess capital equipment.”
“Additionally, we have the option of utilizing the APA cross-connect cabinet as a cost-effective means of doubling the serving areas of our base remote terminal equipment cabinets,” he said.
Integral to the design is the ability to scale from 12 to 864 ports without cost penalty. “Protecting our customers investment is paramount in our design strategy,” said Johnny Hill, APACN vice president of product development. “Rather than force our customer base into a large box or require them to add ports in large blocks, all of our fiber management solutions allow our customers to scale in 12-port increments, saving cash and ensuring every deployed circuit is revenue-generating.”
The 864 cross connect cabinet is a modular and scalable fiber distribution platform designed for “grow-as-you-go” cost containment, allowing rollout of fiber services without a large initial expense. Each cabinet has been designed and field tested to maximize bend radius protection, connector access, ease of cable routing and physical protection of the deployed fibers. This insures that the slack from the patch cords can be safely, neatly and compactly stored, minimizing the risk of fiber damage.
Every APACN fiber management product is designed with the same principles of fiber access protection and route diversity, enabling the technician to utilize the knowledge gained on one deployment in all other OSP as well as central office environments.
About APA Cables & Networks, Inc.
APA Cables & Networks designs and manufactures a complete line of passive fiber optic connectivity solutions centered upon its Fiber Distribution System (FDS) and Fiber Scalability Center (FSC). The FDS and FSC product-lines support a wide range of panel configurations, densities, connectors and adapter options and is offered alongside an assortment of passive optical components. In addition, APA Cables & Networks provides a complete line of fiber and copper assemblies for controlled and outside plant environments. APACN is a wholly owned subsidiary of APA Enterprises, Inc. http://www.apaenterprises.com
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