DZS and its strategic partner Irby Utilities announced that they are working with Connect2First, a subsidiary of First Electric Cooperative, and the City of Cabot, Arkansas to build the first city-owned high speed fiber internet and telephony network in Arkansas. The City of Cabot and Connect2First are leveraging Irby?s broadband network planning and deployment expertise along with cutting-edge DZS Access and Subscriber Edge fiber access solutions to bring 10 gigabit per second symmetrical passive optical networking (XGS-PON) driven next-generation digital communications services to the over 26,000 residents and businesses of Cabot. Hundreds of subscribers are already receiving world-class broadband connectivity from this multi-gigabit services capable network that will pass the entire community with over 220 miles of fiber.

This groundbreaking $20 million project, which is being completely locally funded with no federal or state subsidies and recently was awarded the ?Plan of the Year? from the Arkansas Chapter of the American Planning Association, sets the stage for other rural municipalities in Arkansas and around the country to implement similar projects. DZS and Irby are working closely with Connect2First and the City of Cabot to strategically plan and rapidly deploy cutting-edge Access and Subscriber Edge solutions as part of the new fiber network.

This includes: DZS Velocity Broadband Access Edge systems. This project uses DZS Velocity V14, V6, and V2 multi-terabit and environmentally hardened Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) optical line terminals (OLTs). The Velocity portfolio features line cards that support multi-gigabit services leveraging gigabit passive optical networking (GPON), XGS-PON and 10-gigabit point-to-point Ethernet technologies. DZS HelixSubscriber Edge solutions.

This project uses DZS Helix 5222 XGS-PON ONTs and 1664 WiFi 6 EasyMesh access points to provide wired connectivity within the home and business as well as whole-home WiFi coverage. DZS and Irby prepare electric cooperatives, municipalities and other broadband innovators for the future of broadband. Their systems, which feature industry-leading capacity, future-ready performance and open architectures, aim to accommodate multi-vendor scenarios and emerging service demands seamlessly.

DZS and Irby have also demonstrated an exceptional track record of supporting their mutual customers to leverage government programs like RDOF, the CARES Act, ReConnect loans and grants, and Capital Projects Funds to jumpstart their business plans and position their communities for a hyper-connected world.