Occam BLC 6000 System Selected by Fidelity Communications to Provide Commercial Subscribers with Voice, High-Speed Data and Transparent LAN Services

Business Wire, Nov 10, 2004

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Central Missouri ILEC Delivers Services from an IP Architecture at a Fraction of the Cost of Alternative Architectures

Occam Networks Inc. (OTCBB: OCCM), a supplier of innovative Ethernet and IP-based loop carrier equipment to telecommunications companies worldwide, today announced that Fidelity Communications Co., a Missouri-based company with 16,000 ILEC customers and 7,100 CLEC customers, has selected the Occam BLC 6000 System to deliver POTS, high-speed data, and transparent LAN service to banks and other business subscribers located in the area served by the company's competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) subsidiary.

"Fidelity selected the Occam BLC 6000 because it was the first truly IP solution that we could use to augment our existing access network as we transition to a pure IP access network," said Mike Davis, senior vice president for Fidelity. "An IP architecture with a Gigabit Ethernet backbone ensures that we can add an unlimited number of network nodes and gives us peace of mind that we won't run out of bandwidth any time soon.

"We now have a highly scalable access network architecture that provides us with more service and deployment options at a fraction of the cost of alternative architectures. This is of major importance to us as we look at the cost of future growth."

The ILEC has deployed the BLC System in multiple sites throughout its service area. Currently, Fidelity has Occam BLCs installed and delivering services to CLEC customers from Fidelity's Central Offices (COs) in Bourbon, Cuba and St. James, Mo., where they compete with CenturyTel, and St. Robert, Mo., where they compete with Sprint. Each CO site has a secure Ethernet ring protected by Ethernet Protection Switching (EPS) on which it can easily add new subscribers or deliver new services.

"It has been a great experience working with the Occam team during installation and service turn up -- they delivered what they committed to when they said they would," stated Kevin McCabe, Central Office lead technician. "If we ran into problems, they were right there with solutions. They are one of most responsive companies with whom we've ever worked."

The BLC's Circuit Emulation Service (CES) enables Fidelity to transport T1 trunks between switches, PBXs and routers to provide connectivity to small- and medium-sized businesses over a resilient optic Ethernet ring, as well as helps it to conserve its fiber runs.

Fidelity is experiencing high demand for Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) services in their ILEC territory, and it is currently exploring co-locating the Occam BLC System to offload DSL services from its current Digital Loop Carrier (DLC). Additionally, the carrier is conducting trials using the BLC 6000 to deliver IP video over DSL.

"It's companies like Fidelity who are the visionaries in the telecommunications industry," said Russ Sharer, vice president of sales and marketing for Occam. "They see the value of an Ethernet/IP access network very clearly and are bold enough to take advantage of these technologies now to become more competitive in the future."

About Fidelity Communications Co.

Located in Sullivan, Mo., Fidelity Communications Co. is the holding company for 13 subsidiary companies: Fidelity Telephone Co., Fidelity Long Distance, Fidelity Networks, Fidelity Cablevision, Fidelity Systems Plus, Fidelity Broadcasting, Fidelity Natural Gas, Fidelity Energy, Fidelity Communications International, Cellutel, and Fidelity Communication Services I, II, and III. Fidelity Communications Co. is privately owned by the John T. Davis family and employs more than 220 people.

About Occam Networks Inc.

Occam Networks Inc. develops and markets innovative Broadband Loop Carrier networking equipment that enable telephone companies to deliver voice, data and video services. Based on Ethernet and Internet Protocol (IP) technologies, Occam's equipment allows telecommunications service providers to profitably deliver traditional phone services, as well as advanced Voice-over-IP, residential and business broadband, and digital television services through a single, all-packet access network. Occam is headquartered in Santa Barbara, Calif. Additional information can be found at www.occamnetworks.com.

Portions of this press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future performance of Occam Networks. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from any future performance suggested in such statements. Rapidly changing technologies and market conditions may require changes to Occam's products. Occam does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Please also refer to the company's most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q, annual report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC. These filings contain and identify other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.