Calix, a start-up based in Petaluma, California, named Carl Russo as its president and CEO, replacing company founder Michael Hatfield, who will now focus on key technology and business development issues. Calix is developing infrastructure platforms designed to provide local exchange carriers with high metallic and optical density in their access networks. Specifically, the Calix C7 platform terminates up to 480 copper connections, including POTS, DSL and Ethernet. Integrated POTS splitters allow support for baseband POTS and DSL on the same line. The platform also terminates up to 480 fiber connections, enabling the selective migration of copper-based subscribers to FTTH connections. In addition to existing DS1 and DS3 services, the Calix C7 supports SONET transport and both 10/100 Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet services. The company said it has shipped over 500 of the platforms to date to over 50 US local exchange carriers. In addition, Calix announced $50 million in new Series E funding. The company has raised over $260 million since its founding in 1999.
http://www.calix.com
- Previously, Carl Russo was president and CEO of Cerent, which was acquired by Cisco Systems in August 1999 for $6.9 billion in stock. Cerent developed an optical access and transport platform. Prior to founding Calix, Michael Hatfield was founder and COO at Cerent, and held a variety of senior management positions at AFC and DSC (later acquired by Alcatel).
