Lafayette Utilities System 1314 Walker Road Lafayette, LA 70502 www.lus.org
PRESS RELEASE
LUS and City of Lafayette Select Hardware Vendor for FTTH Project
Officials Say Alcatel-Lucent Has Proven Ability
LAFAYETTE, La. (Oct. 24, 2007) – City-Parish President Joey Durel and Lafayette Utilities System today announced the selection of Alcatel-Lucent to provide critical components for the Fiber-to-The-Home project now under way. The company was one of six vying for the LUS project. After reviewing the bids, a panel comprised of LUS officials and representatives from Atlantic Engineering Group, CCG Consulting and RW Beck decided that Alcatel-Lucent was best suited for the project. The deal is contingent upon final contract terms.
“We looked at everything from budget and architecture to warranty support and training. Alcatel-Lucent proved to us they are the right fit for our project,” said Terry Huval, LUS director. “They have successfully completed similar projects for other municipalities which we have visited and we have seen the commitment that Alcatel-Lucent has made to bringing advanced communications services to municipalities and utility customers.”
Lafayette Consolidated Government through LUS solicited Requests for Proposals for a complete solution that will provide the Fiber-to-The-Home equipment, backbone transport equipment, head-end equipment, set-top boxes and applicable management software. The proposed $30 million solution from Alcatel-Lucent and their Fiber-to-The-Home components will provide a broad range of services.
Alcatel-Lucent remains the uncontested market leader in broadband access with more than 142 million DSL lines shipped and a cumulative market share of 41 percent, more than three times that of its nearest competitor. More than 165 customers have adopted the ISAM product family – the industry’s first true high-end IP access platform that accommodates a wide range of network flavors and topologies. Alcatel-Lucent is engaged in more than 65 FTTx projects around the world, more than 35 of which are with GPON.
“We have witnessed the capabilities of this company and have seen for ourselves the quality of their products and services,” added Joey Durel, Lafayette City-Parish President. “While many of our citizens have not yet seen for themselves how the FTTH project is moving forward, I can assure them that we are working hard behind the scenes to make sure we have the right vendors in place to deliver unparalleled phone, TV and Internet services to the people of Lafayette.”
Alcatel-Lucent’s FTTH components will provide cable, phone, Internet and a broad range of features, from features like a standard cable connection for Advanced Basic and Basic services, to state-of-the-art Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) with flexible and advanced aspects previously unimaginable in Lafayette. The system will also be capable of 100 Mbps peer-to-peer communications in addition to several levels of Internet access, traditional phone services as well as the newer Voice over IP service. The system will be scalable to allow for future growth to accommodate advanced services as they are developed.
LUS officials anticipate that by early 2009, the first LUS customers should be using fiber for their telephone, television and Internet services. Within two years of that first connection, everyone in the city who wants connectivity to LUS fiber should be connected.
About Lafayette Utilities System
The mission of the Lafayette Utilities System (www.lus.org) is to provide high-quality, competitively-priced services that exceed customers' expectations, and contribute to the Lafayette Consolidated Government to support other community needs. LUS employs more than 450 people and offers its customers quality electric, water, wastewater and wholesale telecommunications services. As a customer-owned and operated utility, LUS customers, through their local elected officials, have the power to set rates and control the standard of service.
###
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Allison Dickerson
Public Information Specialist
Lafayette Utilities System
337.291.5822 office
337.349.9779 cell
adickerson@lus.org