Valo Networks Chooses Ekinops to Provide Fiber Optic Connections for Rural Areas

Leading optical transmission and network access expert Ekinops announced that Valo Networks will deploy its Ekinops360 WDM transmission platform to provide rural broadband connectivity in Red Deer County, AB, Canada.
Valo Networks was founded in 2019 and specializes in operating next-generation fiber optic and wireless networks. The company provides complete turnkey services, including design, installation, commissioning, and continuous operation of the new fiber optic network in Alberta Red Deer County. To serve Canadian communities like Red Deer County, Valo Networks has created an Open Access Network (OAN) network architecture that provides scalable, accessible, and future oriented capacity that can be customized for various communities.
Red Deer County signed a contract with Valo Networks to supervise the expansion of broadband Internet services to thousands of rural residents with insufficient services from existing private service providers. Rural Connect Limited is an initiative of a municipal control company that is currently receiving ongoing funding support from EQUS REA Limited, a member electricity supplier in Alberta, to provide services to Delburn Village and Red Deer County, and expand to other cities throughout the province.

Valo is building a new network using the Ekinops360 WDM system, starting from 10G and expanding to higher capacity as demand increases. Valo chose Ekinops because of the openness, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness of its transportation solution. Using Ekinops’ advanced network management system Celestis NMS, Valo will be able to expand and upgrade its network over time, even introducing new technologies such as OTN and SDN, without increasing the complexity of network operations. Ekinops’ innovative history and stable, Western based supply chain are also factors in its choice.
Michael Stelck, Chief Business Officer of Valo Networks, said, “The key to our OAN architecture lies in its openness across all network layers. Ekinops360 fully aligns with this model, and its ease of use will help reduce operational and maintenance costs, which is our biggest cost throughout the entire network lifecycle.”
The report quotes Red Deer County Magistrate Jim Wood as saying, “This project will bring widespread benefits to our entire community. Agriculture is an important component of our economy, and it will greatly help our farms acquire modern precision agriculture methods and technologies, while also connecting our schools, businesses, and homes.”

Providing rural broadband connections is an increasingly important issue in the United States and Canada. Service providers focused on rural communities like Valo Networks play a crucial role in bridging the digital divide, and Ekinops is proud to contribute to their efforts.