PacketFront, the pioneer of open-access broadband networking, in conjunction with its Norwegian partner NetNordic, has closed a deal to create an open-access FTTH (fibre-to-the-home) network for parts of Norway's most broadband-orientated municipality. Bykle municipality's network company Bykle Breiband will build an open-access network for selected households and summer dwellings at Setersdal in Aust-Agder county in southern Norway. The new network will be in addition to the current broadband network supplied by LyseTele.

"We think it's very important to be able to offer our users freedom of choice; this has been an increasing demand from the market," says Bykle Breiband's Kenneth Pedersen-Rise. "Our new customers will therefore have the opportunity to choose various IPTV packages and Internet packages from different suppliers. From the start, companies like Homebase will be able to supply their services, but more service providers will be added later on."

The key component in PacketFront's broadband solution is the award-winning BECS control and provisioning system. BECS makes it possible for operators to build and operate fully automatic broadband networks with self-provisioning functionality on demand. This enables end-users to increase capacity and choose services for themselves without needing to wait for a third party to implement the changes. PacketFront will also supply Advanced Services Routers (ASR) in the ASR 5000 Series to Bykle Breiband.

"We are delighted that growth in Norway continues to be strong," says Martin Thunman, CEO of PacketFront. "We now have businesses in 12 of Norway's total 19 regions, from Finnmark in the north to Aust-Agder in the south and Oslo/Akershus in the west. Our solutions provide high speed, fibre-based broadband services with great choice and high quality to households and companies and we are also seeing a strong growth in interest from other network operators and energy companies in Norway."

One of PacketFront's Norwegian partners, NetNordic, is responsible for design and delivery of the network which will provide services like IPTV and 100Mb Internet. NetNordic will also be responsible for implementation and operation.

About Bykle Breiband
Bykle Breiband is Bykle municipality's broadband company. Bykle is in southern Norway's province of Aust-Agder, and has Norway's highest level of broadband penetration.

About NetNordic
NetNordic has specialised as assistant provider within the fields of corporate communication and broadband networks with accompanying advice services, installation and operation. NetNordic has been supplying triple-play solutions since 2002, with the emphasis on operator-neutral networks. NetNordic et was established in 2001 and has 35 employees; its turnover last year was NOK 60.0 million. NetNordic comprises the parent company and the 80%-owned subsidiary, Greenfield AS. The company is 51% owned by Agder Energi Invest and its founder Tom Solberg plus staff and management. NetNordic's head office is in Oslo and there is also an office in Kristiansand.