DEALS & CONTRACTS

Optical Solutions Inc. said Laurel Highland Telephone Co. (LHTC) of Stahlstown, Pa., has signed an exclusive agreement to purchase the FiberPath 500 GPON system through 2007. The carrier plans to deploy a FTTP network that will serve almost 5400 homes and businesses across the Laurel Highlands region, 50 miles east of Pittsburgh.

Consolidated Telecommunications Co. of northern Minnesota is deploying ADC's OmniReach FTTx solution as part of an all-fiber competitive triple-play service. CTC, which serves 10,000 access lines in the Brainerd, Minn., area is using a fiber ring it built last summer to service area schools as part of the competitive offering. The CLEC deployment is launching this summer in Brainerd and Baxter with a goal of completing a 100-square-mile overbuild by 2008.

Wave7 Optics said it has signed a deal to provide its Last Mile Link FTTP platform to Wabash Mutual Telephone of Celina, Ohio. The 1300-access line telco will use the equipment as part of its plans to overbuild areas currently served by Verizon and Adelphia. The company's service, which will launch as early as next month, will include a package of 150 channels of IP television, 30 music channels, one or two phone lines and a data service up to 5 Mb/s symmetrical.

Verizon Communications announced that Alltel Communications has signed an agreement to use its LiveSource business unit to provide directory assistance services. The multi-year agreement covers service both wireline and wireless customers. Alltel's wireless customers will have access to movie and restaurant listings, weather forecasts, sports updates, horoscopes and business category searches. Wireline customers will get customer name and address lookups, national directory assistance and call completion.