A landmark joint venture between the region’s rural telephone and electric cooperatives taps the power of the Calix Intelligent Access EDGE platform and XGS-PON to deliver a scalable, secure, automated broadband network to bridge the digital divide for underserved communities

Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) today announced that PalmettoLink has capitalized on the Calix Intelligent Access EDGE™ platform to turn up subscribers dramatically faster after launching its new 10G XGS-PON software-defined network. South Carolina-based PalmettoLink is a broadband partnership between Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative (PRTC) and Palmetto Electric Cooperative. Powered by the Network Innovation Platform (AXOS®), PalmettoLink has reduced subscriber turn-up times by an average of 83 percent. This is allowing them to serve their communities sooner than projected without the need to hire additional installers, keeping projected OPEX down.

PRTC and Palmetto Electric Cooperative are uniquely positioned to deliver high-speed fiber broadband services to their rural subscribers through their partnership. Both cooperatives were born of the need for services in rural areas ignored by larger, investor-owned companies. The PalmettoLink broadband fiber network provides subscribers with access to advanced services including telehealth, online education, economic development opportunities, and more.

With Intelligent Access EDGE, PalmettoLink has been able to:

• Accelerate subscriber turn-ups by 83 percent with the Network Innovation Platform and E7-2 Intelligent Modular System. The E7-2 Intelligent Modular System offers support for automated network service provisioning via the AXOS SMx Connector. AXOS SMx simplifies ONT service activation, dramatically reducing the time required to install and turn up new services.
• Deliver critical services with zero downtime thanks to the Network Innovation Platform. The Intelligent Access EDGE platform features hardware independence and stateful operations capabilities. These features assure PalmettoLink customers that critical services will remain operational even during maintenance and upgrades.
• Reduce integration timelines from months to days with AXOS Sandbox. Consistent software integrations simplify network operations and greatly reduce OSS/BSS system integration time. With AXOS Sandbox, PalmettoLink can leverage a common model to reduce integration times. They can also test and evaluate new software and API integrations within a virtual environment—virtually anywhere and anytime.

“PRTC has deployed Calix E7 GPON for the past 10 years in the markets it serves. With the recent establishment of PalmettoLink, we felt the time was right to upgrade to the Network Innovation Platform and 10G XGS-PON,” said Tony Stout, chief technology officer at PRTC. “XGS-PON will enable us to future proof our network and deliver high-speed services that support cloud-based gaming, smart home services, video streaming, and conferencing. In addition to delivering new high-speed services, the software-defined Calix XGS-PON network will enable us to maintain a significant advantage over our competitors by rapidly turning up subscribers and significantly reducing back-office integration time and costs.”

PRTC has served the South Carolina Lowcountry since 1951. PRTC serves more than 13,000-plus access lines in nine counties through a completely digital host-remote, all private line network with six exchanges. Formed in 1940, Palmetto Electric Cooperative offers innovative programs to more than 75,000 customers.

“PalmettoLink is proof that broadband service providers of any size can transform their communities by partnering with Calix,” said Shane Eleniak, executive vice president, products at Calix. “Demand for broadband grows faster each year, but nearly 25 percent of rural populations are still effectively unserved. Where consumer giants have turned away, non-traditional service providers like PRTC and Palmetto Electric Cooperative are stepping in to deliver high quality broadband to the communities they’ve served for generations. With the Intelligent Access EDGE, Network Innovation Platform, and E7-2 systems, PalmettoLink has laid a solid foundation for a network that is scalable, secure, and automated. Process automation to reduce OPEX and a modular architecture will also allow them to adopt new technology without impacting subscriber services. We’re thrilled to help them simplify their operations, excite their subscribers, and grow their value for years to come.”

Download “Calix AXOS: Simplifying the Business of Broadband” to learn how the Network Innovation Platform simplifies network and operations so service providers can focus on their business and beat their competition.

About Calix

Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX)—Calix cloud and software platforms enable service providers of all types and sizes to innovate and transform. Our customers utilize the real-time data and insights from Calix platforms to simplify their businesses and deliver experiences that excite their subscribers. The resulting growth in subscriber acquisition, loyalty, and revenue create more value for their businesses and communities. This is the Calix mission; to enable broadband service providers of all sizes to simplify, excite, and grow.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon management's current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calix’s business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calix's results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

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