DZS Customer Prodigi Teams with PCEDA to Bring Hyper-Broadband Services to Rural West Virginia

Rhea-AI Summary

DASAN Zhone Solutions (NSDQ: DZSI) announces a partnership with Prodigi to bring gigabit broadband to Preston County, West Virginia, leveraging DZS's MXK-F platform. Prodigi is deploying nearly 200 miles of fiber, with over 2,000 customers currently served and adoption rates between 85% and 100%. The company aims to offer symmetrical 10 Gbps services soon. Recognized with a $3 million Connect America Grant, Prodigi has transformed the region from coal reliance to high-speed connectivity, showcasing significant community support and innovation.

Positive

• Partnership with Prodigi to deliver gigabit broadband in Preston County.
• High broadband adoption rates of 85% to 100% in served areas.
• Prodigi plans to offer symmetrical 10 Gbps services soon.
• $3 million Connect America Grant awarded to Prodigi to support growth.

Negative

• None.

ALAMEDA, Calif., May 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DASAN Zhone Solutions, Inc. (NSDQ: DZSI or “DZS”), a leading enabler of the emerging hyper-connected, hyper-broadband world, is proud to announce fiber overbuilder Prodigi has teamed with the Preston County Economic Development Authority (PCEDA) to invigorate this former coal mining region of West Virginia with gigabit broadband services. Leveraging a cutting-edge fiber optic infrastructure and the multi-terabit DZS MXK-F platform and zNID ONTs, Prodigi is using GPON to deliver symmetrical hyper-broadband services today ranging from 30 Mbps to 1 Gbps to homes and businesses. An extraordinary improvement over services historically available in the region, the company is seeing broadband adoption rates ranging from 85% to 100% of homes past in the communities it serves. Prodigi plans to continue its track record of innovation by becoming the first symmetrical 10 Gbps service provider in the state of West Virginia soon, taking advantage of the flexibilty of the MXK-F by simply adding XGS-PON cards to existing chassis.

“We are thrilled that in just a few years, we’ve been able to take major steps forward in closing the digital gap in Preston County – transforming it from a region suffering from the decline of coal mining to one that can boast not only the fastest broadband speeds in the state, but among the most robust in the world,” said Bob Joseph and Tim Wotring, co-owners of Prodigi. “Even more important, as part of an ownership group that calls Preston County ‘home’ it’s gratifying to see the strong community response to our endeavors, with broadband service take rates far in excess of predictions. DZS has been a phenomenal partner to us in enabling this success and laying a foundation for future growth, and we look forward to working with them as we continue on our quest to bring our world-class network to all of Preston County.”

Today, Prodigi has nearly 200 miles of fiber deployed and is serving over 2000 customers in the region. The company was named “2018 Business of the Year” by the Preston County Chamber of Commerce (see video) and has achieved national recognition for its endeavors, including being selected for a $3 million Connect America Grant bestowed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture – the largest grant allowed. Other key partners in Prodigi’s success have been financial partner Clear Mountain Bank who has helped fund their growth, grant partner PCEDA, and technology partner DZS.

“The success of Prodigi is a testament to the vision of its founders, the efforts of local, state, and national leaders and programs, and the determination of a community to reinvent itself,” said Mitch Fleming, SVP of Americas Sales and Global Business Development at DZS. “We are extremely proud to be one of the key technology enablers to Prodigi and its initiatives to date, and look forward to helping the company reach every corner of Preston County and beyond.”

About DZS

DASAN Zhone Solutions, Inc. (NSDQ: DZSI or “DZS”) is a global provider of leading-edge access, 5G transport, and enterprise communications platforms that enable the emerging hyper-connected, hyper-broadband world. Over 1200 service providers, operators, and enterprises in over 120 countries have leveraged DZS innovation, open solutions, and agility to arm them with the network resources and deployment freedom they need to lead in their markets and deliver an unrivaled communications experience. With manufacturing based in the USA and Germany, engineering, service and support centers of excellence spread across the globe DZS is positioned to bring next-generation technologies and world-class solutions to service providers and enterprises who are poised to transform, compete and win. 

DASAN Zhone Solutions, the DZS logo, and all DZS product names are trademarks of DASAN Zhone Solutions, Inc. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective holders. Specifications, products, and/or product names are all subject to change

For further information see: www.DZSI.com
DZS on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DASANZhone
DZS on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dasanzhone/

Press Inquiries:
DZS Marketing
1350 South Loop Road, Suite 130
Alameda, CA 94502
Tel. +1 510-777-7000
Email: marketing@dasanzhone.com

This press release can be downloaded here.

FAQ

What is the stock symbol for DASAN Zhone Solutions?

The stock symbol for DASAN Zhone Solutions is DZSI.

What partnership did DZS announce on May 13, 2020?

DZS announced a partnership with Prodigi to provide gigabit broadband services in Preston County, West Virginia.

What broadband speeds is Prodigi offering?

Prodigi is currently offering broadband speeds ranging from 30 Mbps to 1 Gbps.

How many customers does Prodigi serve?

Prodigi serves over 2,000 customers in the Preston County region.

What grant was awarded to Prodigi and by whom?

Prodigi was awarded a $3 million Connect America Grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.