SASKATCHEWAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS HOLDING CORPORATION (SASKTEL) VOICE INFRASTRUCTURE MODERNIZATION AND RURAL BROADBAND ACCESS ENABLED THROUGH MULTI-SERVICE DEPLOYMENT

Zhone Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZHNE), a global leader in FTTx network access solutions, today announced that Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation (SaskTel), a service provider of business and residential customers in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada has deployed Zhone Technologies’ MXK platform in yet another step to replace and modernize the SaskTel legacy voice network. In addition to next generation voice over IP technologies, SaskTel is using Zhone’s MXK hardware to deliver triple-play services in rural areas of the province.

“By modernizing our voice network we can achieve significant savings in our ongoing operational costs, enable the integration between our wireline and wireless networks and enhance our customer service experience,” emphasized Daryl Godfrey, Chief Technology Officer, SaskTel. “In addition to cost savings with this new architecture, our revitalized network will enable us to evolve our architecture to IMS and better integrate our wireline and wireless networks.”

“When we started the process to select a voice line access gateway product, we wanted to assure that we could also provide any future broadband service over the same platform. This is especially important for us as we continue to develop our rural areas where we need to capitalize on a multi-service access device that is cost effective. On all these fronts, the Zhone MXK was the clear leader.”

“SaskTel is an ideal customer to showcase Zhone’s position as market leader in Canada for voice network modernization projects and multi-service broadband access solutions,” explained Michael Fischer, Vice President of Sales, Zhone Technologies. “Service providers in North America – and around the globe – rely on the core functionalities of the Zhone MXK, including flexibility, scalability and ease of use. Our customers know it is one of the leading solutions for both voice modernization and triple play services.”

To date, Zhone has deployed enough MXK platforms to support more than 45 million total potential subscribers. Featuring industry-leading density, scalability and switching capacity, the Zhone MXK is the industry’s first terabit access concentrator and provides non-blocking capacity of up to 3,600 100 Mbps GPON subscribers or 360 1G Active Ethernet subscribers.

For more information about Zhone’s MXK solutions, please visit www.zhone.com/products/MXK/.