LG-Nortel acquires Novera Optics

(courtesy Lightwave – Pennwell)

AUGUST 04, 2008 – LG-Nortel says it has closed the acquisition of Novera Optics Inc., a developer of fiber-optic access technology known most prominently for its work in WDM PON. LG-Nortel is a joint venture of LG Electronics and Nortel.

The acquisition costs, including employee retention and transaction costs, were approximately $16 million in cash, plus up to an additional $10 million to Novera security holders based on achievement of future business milestones over the next 18 months.

Novera has supplied its WDM PON technology to KT Corp. ADC’s PONy Express WDM PON offering is also based on Novera’s technology.

“Novera’s goal has always been to develop technologies that make it easier for carriers to deliver Ethernet-class FTTx services to their customers,” said John Barton, president and chief executive officer of Novera. “Our technology is a natural complement to Nortel’s and LG-Nortel’s Carrier Ethernet solutions. Nortel’s strong technology base and extensive distribution channels will ensure that service providers around the world can use our WDM-PON technology to more easily deliver high-speed FTTx services to their own customers.”

“We are always looking for new ways to help our carrier customers deliver innovative new services to customers,” said Jae Ryung Lee, chief executive officer of LG-Nortel. “Novera’s technology will be indispensable for our carrier customers because it will simplify delivery of carrier-class Ethernet FTTx services to their own customers.”

Customer Premise – FTTx

(courtesy of PONtech Corp)

PONtech specializes in FTTP Fiber-to-the-Premise deployment solutions. They provide a wide range of installation and activation services for ILEC, CLEC, Planned/Gated Communities and Municipal FTTx projects nationwide with our professional installation technicians. PONtech has extensive experience deploying and upgrading FTTx networks utilizing multiple vendor platforms. They are based in MN and handle the last 10 ft of FTTx networks and the transition to the new platform.

The field work is complete with the fiber installed and spliced. The CO equipment is ready and the vendor has provided training for key staff. Now it is time to start moving customers to the new network. The question is how to best implement this portion of the project.

There have been many improvements enabling service providers to streamline their deployments and cut installation costs. Pre-connectorized drops and advances in premise splicing equipment have made the installation