History

Adtran and ADVA announced a business combination to create a global, scaled, end-to-end fiber networking solutions leader. This transatlantic partnership doubles the size of Adtran, enhancing our already strong solutions portfolio. The merger comes as the network edge is transforming to accommodate a range of data-hungry applications.

We unveiled Metnet, our breakthrough 60GHz mmWave mesh solution to complement FTTH services and enable service providers to speed Gigabit coverage in dense urban areas and hard-to-reach rural locations.

Adtran acquired open-source connected home software and cloud services experts, SmartRG, with the aim of integrating the company’s solutions into our Mosaic platforms.

We launched Mosaic, the industry’s first open SD-Access services architecture. At the time, Mosaic was the market’s only open SD-Access architecture capable of supporting rapid service creation and the delivery of business and residential broadband services at web scale.

Adtran revealed its next-generation PON technology. Predicting that carriers would want to combine business and residential service delivery over a single PON architecture, we added new features to our Total Access 5000 platform to support the TWDM PON architecture most closely associated with the ITU/FSAN NG-PON2 specifications. The upgrade also enabled 10Gbit/s GPON, 10Gbit/s EPON, point-to-point DWDM, and GPON architectures.

We acquired Nokia Siemens Networks’ fixed line broadband access business, putting us on track to turn Adtran into a major player on the global stage.

Adtran acquired Bluesocket, a manufacturer of virtual wireless LAN solutions. We integrated Bluesocket’s portfolio of virtual WLAN solutions with our existing LAN and unified communications solutions to provide seamless wireless and wired communication across major enterprise and campus environments.

We acquired Ottawa-based software company ObjectWorld Communications.

Adtran acquired Luminous Networks, a manufacturer of access network equipment.

We released our landmark Adtran Total Access System 800, a combination digital cross-connect system, ISDN access switch, T1 bandwidth manager, and remote access multiplexer. This modular solution, also known as ATLAS, was designed to accommodate growth, helping companies more easily scale their networks.

So that Adtran could remain ahead of the game in an increasingly crowded marketplace, we introduced the concept of extending product lifespan. We developed solutions that could be upgraded, repacked and resold.

Adtran began supplying HDSL equipment. Because we had started manufacturing and selling HDSL solutions earlier than many of our competitors, by the mid-90s, as businesses and organizations began leveraging the internet for a range of purposes, we already had the knowledge and experience that enabled us to develop market-leading solutions capable of transmitting high-speed T1 services over existing copper wiring.

By this point, Adtran had grown significantly. We had solidified our market share as a leading supplier of networking equipment to telcos across the US, and our product line now included a diverse portfolio of customer premises equipment (CPE).

Central office and local loop telecommunications equipment for US telcos became Adtran’s target market. We developed various digital data service (DDS) products for a range of purposes, including digital signal zero data ports for interconnecting two channels in telco central offices.

Following AT&T’s divestiture of the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs), we made our market debut supplying network equipment to the seven RBOCs and the more than 1,300 independent telephone companies across the US.

Mark C. Smith founded Adtran in Huntsville, Alabama, where the company is still headquartered. Smith founded Adtran with the future in mind, recognizing where the industry was headed – the complete digitalization of the telecommunications infrastructure.