Services

Pulse’s aim is to work with entities interested in constructing a fiber-to-the-home network.  Our true turnkey solution allows our clients to cost effectively construct the network, and then deploy best-in-class services.  

 

• Capacity - Fiber networks provide the bandwidth to offer voice, video, high speed data & a multitude of other advanced services.
• Infrastructure - An investment in a fiber network  is a true long term infrastructure investment.  A fiber network provides the capacity needed for decades in the future.
• Cost Effective - Pulse’s patented distributed tap fiber architecture is less costly to build and maintain than traditional fiber architectures.  (See video at right for more information!)

• Broadband Boulevard™ - Our Broadband Boulevard™ service suite brings multiple video, data & voice providers to your fiber network.  This game changing solution provides end users with unparalleled choice and value.
• Turnkey Solution - Pulse is a true turnkey provider.  We will design the fiber network, manage construction, and offer end user services (e.g. voice, video & data).
• Personal Customer Care  - Pulse manages a customer contact center which provides order entry and service so that end users have a single point of contact.
• Superior Economics - As the fiber owner, you receive a share of the end user revenue.  By leveraging the expertise of Pulse and its voice, video & data partners, all you have to do is cash the checks!
• World Class Service - The Broadband Boulevard™ model ensures that your members/residents have better choices, technology & customer service than offered in major urban areas.

I’ve heard a lot about wireless technologies, including WI-FI, WI MAX and even satellite enabled data.  It seems like some people are touting these technologies for rural application.  Why go with fiber-to-the-home?

Simple – these technologies do not provide sufficient bandwidth to offer advanced services and, due to the bandwidth limitation will rapidly become obsolete. Investment is this technology, as others have found out is risky, since when competing technologies are deployed in the area (even cable modem or higher speed DSL service), nearly all customers tend to migrate away from these services. It is certainly tempting as there are a number of wireless providers who advertise a low cost of entry however the old axiom “you get what you pay for” holds true. Satellite enabled data, in particular, provides relatively little value to your members in terms of increased speeds and generally is costly for your members (many satellite data products charge upwards of $70 per month for speeds of less than 768 Kbps).

WiFi and WiMAX are great technologies and can complement wireline solutions by providing “hot spots” in town squares, restaurants, and other public areas. It is widely acknowledged however these technologies are not sufficient to address the long-term bandwidth needs of consumers.

Based on the growing bandwidth needs of Americans, we advocate building an advanced, scalable fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network to serve your members. FTTH is recognized internationally as the new standard and is being deployed by municipalities and telephone companies in many areas across the country. The following “Primer” provides an excellent overview as to why a provider would choose FTTH over other technologies.

 

Fiber-to-the-Home Primer (pdf file)

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How is the FTTH solution offered by Pulse Broadband different than other FTTH architectures on the market?

One of Pulse’s founders, Dave Pangrac, has been widely recognized over the years for his contributions to the development of innovative network architecture, including developing hybrid-fiber-coaxial technology that became the de facto standard in the cable industry. Recognizing the power of fiber optic networks and the need to reduce costs in order to reach more consumers, he and his team have developed a FTTH design utilizing “distributed taps” to reduce the overall cost of constructing the network. Although the design uses less fiber, it does not compromise speed or quality and, in fact, is easier to repair and maintain and in many cases has greater capacity than existing FTTH designs.

The key difference between Pulse’s architecture and conventional “PON” architecture is as follows:

 

Conventional FTTH Designs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notice that the above design requires one fiber for each home passed. This could mean that there could be as many as 400 fibers emanating from a node! This is a costly proposition and creates risk to the extent the fiber is cut (imagine matching and splicing 400 fibers to restore service!).

 

Pulse’s FTTH Architecture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note that Pulse’s design relies on only 4-8 fibers from the node. Since bandwidth is not constrained by the fiber (in fact a single fiber can carry massive amounts of data, current constraints are only in the network equipment), this solution is as robust as competing FTTH architectures. Pulse’s solution takes 4-8 fibers to “taps” that then extend single fibers “drops” to each home. This also allows a cooperative to build drops only to those members who subscriber to telecommunications services, thus further saving costs. Using the above architecture we have managed to reduce the total construction cost significantly compared to traditional FTTH architectures.

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Has Pulse’s design been tested?

Pulse’s design has been deployed over the past 3 years at major telecommunications operators including Comcast, Time Warner, Bresnan and a number of others. These operators have generally deployed the solution in new developments (again since cable operators have large historical investments in hybrid-fiber-coax networks and are therefore reluctant to change over technologies in a short timeframe).

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OK, entering the telecommunications space with FTTH seems like an interesting proposition - why should I engage Pulse Broadband to help?

Pulse’s managers have decades of experience deploying and managing telecommunications services. See management bios [link] section for backgrounds of the management team.

In addition to our experience and track record, Pulse brings a comprehensive and tested approach to deploying and managing telecommunications services. Our approach, that we term “the Secret Sauce” is comprised of a set of management processes and reporting tools that allows us, and you, to have full visibility to all aspects of the your customer’s experience. You will have control of the key service decisions related to the business and can rely on Pulse to advise and execute on your decisions. As a manager, you will have access to a “portal” that will provide you visibility to key information including customer activity (service connects, disconnects), network performance and technical and customer care statistics. Our metrics have been developed over a number of years and have helped companies achieve leading results.

Pulse’s services can be tailored to your individual needs. Our “turnkey” solution allows you to make the key product and service delivery decisions and engages Pulse in delivering substantially all aspects of the telecommunication services. For instance, at the outset of the project we would meet with you to determine the product mix, marketing plan and projected results. We would then deliver the service (including installation, customer care, plant maintenance, etc.), over your FTTH network, and provide you with reports detailing key measurements. We would meet with you frequently to discuss goals and results. Alternatively, we can work with your existing staff on certain service elements, for example customer care, and train your staff to handle telecommunications customer care.

 

Finally, our Broadband Boulevard™ open access model allows you as the network to receive revenues by allowing best-in-class voice, video and data to provide service over your network.

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Sounds like the way to go.  How do I go about getting financing for the project?

A FTTH project results in a long term asset to your cooperative.  Pulse has extensively discussed our approach with major cooperative lenders and determined that in most cases constructing a fiber network can be fully financed with debt.  Pulse is available at no or minimal cost to provide support in raising the funds necessary to finance the project.

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I am interested in discussing this opportunity, what are the next steps?

We at Pulse Broadband would be happy to discuss this opportunity with your cooperative. We suggest an initial phone meeting followed by an in-person meeting where a member(s) of our team would discuss this opportunity with you in greater depth. In addition, at no cost to you we can put together a preliminary financial model to illustrate the business case for your cooperative. See our Contact Us section for our contact information.

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Why should my cooperative enter the telecommunications market?  Why now?

Entering the telecommunications market can allow you to provide value to your members by offering them advanced services and at the same time provide an attractive financial return to the cooperative.

Electric cooperatives have a number of inherent advantages over existing and “new” telecommunications providers.

• You are able to quickly construct a network due to your existing pole grid, customer database and positive customer relationships. Entering the telecommunications markets fully leverages your existing assets.
• To the extent your area, or a portion of your area, does not have access to advanced broadband access (high speed data with speeds greater than 5 Mbps, high definition video programming, etc.) your area likely qualifies for federal loan or grant money. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided over $7 billion in funding, $2.5 billion to the Rural Utility Service (RUS) and $4.7 billion to the National Telecommunication and Information Administration. As an electric cooperative you are well positioned to receive these funds due to your existing relationship with the RUS and your non-profit status.
• You have the ability to select new technology and are not encumbered by previous technology investments. Cable and telephone companies have spent billions to deploy their cable modem and DSL solutions and are thus not willing to abandon their platforms in favor of new, higher capacity and less expensive technology.

You have the ability to add tremendous value in your community by improving quality of life, creating jobs and saving your members money.

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Entering the market seems risky and time consuming.  We and our colleagues have tried other businesses (propane, wireless internet, etc.) and had mixed success.  Why is this different?

 

Technology to deploy telecommunications services continues to decline in cost and increase in capacity. It has reached a point to where advanced services, such as voice over IP (with unlimited domestic long distance), advanced video (including high definition and video on demand) and extremely fast internet connectivity (100 Mbps) can be deployed cost effectively. In addition, using inexpensive sources of financing places little financial risk on your cooperative and partnering with an experience telecommunication service provider, such as Pulse, minimizes the operational/execution risk. Municipalities across the country are beginning to successfully deploy fiber networks and they do not share certain of the advantages that you as an electric cooperative have.

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So I’ve decided to investigate further.  What are the available technologies to use to provide telecommunications services?

 

A number of technologies are in use by telecommunications providers. In general you would want to evaluate the following technologies:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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• Economic Development - Relative to other technology investments, fiber creates the largest economic impact for your community.
• Financially Feasible - Using Pulse’s fiber architecture combined with Broadband Boulevard™ provides a compelling financial case for network owners (Pulse can facilitate financing).
• No Risk Business Case Analysis - Pulse offers a free business case analysis.  Please contact us!

Why should my cooperative enter the telecommunications market?  Why now?

Entering the market seems risky and time consuming.  We and our colleagues have tried other businesses (propane, wireless internet, etc.) and had mixed success.  Why is this different?

So I’ve decided to investigate further.  What are the available technologies to use to provide telecommunications services?

I’ve heard a lot about wireless technologies, including WI-FI, WI MAX and even satellite enabled data.  It seems like some people are touting these technologies for rural application.  Why go with fiber-to-the-home?

How is the FTTH solution offered by Pulse Broadband different than other FTTH architectures on the market?

Has Pulse’s design been tested?

OK, entering the telecommunications space with FTTH seems like an interesting proposition - why should I engage Pulse Broadband to help?

Sounds like the way to go.  How do I go about getting financing for the project?

I am interested in discussing this opportunity, what are the next steps?