FairPont said details for the plans in Maine and New Hampshire will be released in a few weeks.

     The network design that FairPoint is developing consists of a three-tiered approach to building an advanced next generation network capable of supporting existing subscriber needs and also providing a platform for the future.

     The carrier said the plan will utilize FairPoint’s core network, capable of providing access to the Internet and advanced services such as IPTV and high-speed data, to markets such as Burlington, Montpelier, Brattleboro, St. Johnsbury and Rutland in Vermont. The equipment proposed for the core part of the network is capable of 10gbps transmission rates using IP/MPLS.

     The next tier of the network, serving markets such as Concord, Troy and West Burke, according to FairPoint, will utilize Multi Service Access Nodes (MSAN), with transmission rates from 1gbps to 10gbps, providing transport to the core and access networks. Each of the central offices in this tier connect to neighborhoods via digital loop carriers. This equipment will also support advanced services such as IPTV.

     The third tier of the network is the last mile link, which is primarily copper. FairPoint said it is proposing to begin extending broadband service to areas presently not served by deploying either ADSL2+ or VDSL2 broadband technology over the existing copper cable.

     These technologies are capable of delivering up to 25mbps and 100mbps of bandwidth depending on loop length. This same MSAN equipment is also capable of providing fiber-to-the-home, from the same chassis already connected to the core network.

     FairPoint stressed it does not intend to replace the existing Verizon DSL equipment on a network-wide level in this plan. Instead, it will first concentrate on expanding the broadband network into communities that do not have access to broadband services.