PETALUMA, CA – March 29, 2018 – Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) today announced Arkwest Communications (Arkwest), a leading local exchange carrier (LEC) in western Arkansas, is moving to a 100 percent Software Defined Access (SDA) architecture by deploying the Calix AXOS E7-2 Intelligent Modular System throughout its entire service area. Part of a complete, next-generation network transformation initiative which includes new voice infrastructure and upgraded Calix optical network terminals (ONTs), Arkwest is future-proofing its GPON network to prepare for advanced services like managed Wi-Fi. By rapidly deploying the award-winning AXOS platform across its entire network, Arkwest will benefit from one common set of operational procedures to accelerate their time to market with these new services.
“While we are located in a rural, agricultural-based community, Arkwest has a history of making major network investments, like our early adoption of fiber technologies, to better serve our subscriber base,” said Tom May, plant manager at Arkwest. “This commitment to our community continues to push us to embrace next generation technologies, which is why we are excited to make the move to a 100 percent software defined access network. We share the Calix vision of connecting everyone and everything as we focus on connecting our residential and business subscribers to the world. After attending Calix ConneXions and hearing about the unique capabilities that AXOS delivers to service providers, we accelerated our transformational journey. Now, through our partnership with Calix, I am confident that we have the network in place to exceed our subscribers’ expectations and address whatever challenges the future may hold for us.”
AXOS, the world’s only true SDA platform, is enabling Arkwest to rapidly transform their legacy infrastructure into a next-generation network through a DevOps model that is essential to delivering a sensational subscriber experience. As new innovations are introduced to AXOS, such as automation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, Arkwest can quickly deploy simple software upgrades to adopt these technologies into their own network. Through the self-healing capabilities of AXOS, Arkwest will be able to maintain an always on network while dramatically reducing expensive truck rolls across their rural serving area. With the AXOS future-proof network in place, Arkwest stands ready to take full advantage of simplified operations, fast delivery of new services, and a stateful network that maintains an unmatched subscriber experience while upgrades are in process.
“Arkwest is a great example of an innovative regional service provider who is preparing their network for the emerging services of the future,” said Skip Hirvela, vice president of sales at Calix. “It is so impressive to see innovators like Arkwest setting the bar for the market by rapidly moving to a completely software defined access network, versus taking a measured, phased approach to network transformation. By quickly deploying AXOS, they are not only transforming their network to a software defined access architecture; they are transforming their business. Once again, Arkwest is leading the pack, not only by elevating their subscriber experience, but by delivering future services rapidly, seamlessly, and cost effectively to the communities that they serve.”
