Charles Industries Introduces New Fiber Optic Interconnect Enclosures

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL--(Marketwire - December 10, 2009) - Charles Industries, Ltd., a leading provider of outside plant innovations for communications service providers, has expanded its industry-leading family of fiber distribution enclosures with the introduction of two new fiber interconnect hubs, Charles Fiber Interconnect Terminals (CFIT) and Charles Fiber Distribution Point (CFDP) Interconnect Pedestals. By offering a choice of two distinct form factors for fiber interconnect points -- CFIT metal cabinets and CFDP above-grade pedestals -- Charles has solved the problem of providing economical, easy to install interconnect facilities at the majority of providers' backhaul installations.

Charles Fiber Interconnect Terminals provide a compact, rugged outdoor cabinet solution for remote pre-connectorized interconnect applications of up to 48 fibers. CFIT cabinets are ideally suited to cell sites, campuses, strip malls, business parks and other environments where the customer requires high-capacity fiber bandwidth for wireless backhaul, private networks or data and video broadband services. Their convenient form factor saves space and allows for one-person installations on walls, poles or H-Frames. Welded aluminum construction and weather-tight door seals ensure the highest level of environmental protection.

Charles Fiber Distribution Point Interconnect Pedestals offer the same interconnect functionality as CFIT in a buried distribution pedestal form factor. CFDP pedestals are constructed of non-metallic PVC to resist corrosion, rust, fire, and impact. A locking one-piece dome provides flood-proof protection of internal components and 360-degree access to working areas.

"With mobile communications driving new cell tower placements and upgrades of existing installations, CFIT cabinets and CFDP pedestals address a need for easy-to-place fiber interconnect points," says Minesh Patel, vice president of Charles Industries' OSP Business Unit. "Charles CFIT and CFDP offer greater flexibility in placement on either side of a cell-tower security fence, and offer scalable growth and superior environmental protection, two characteristics service providers greatly value."

All Charles Fiber Interconnect solutions feature built-in SC/APC or SC/UPC adapter bulkheads, facilitating fast and easy provisioning of fiber services to the end customers' fiber multiplexing equipment. Fiber drops can be turned up, moved or disconnected on an "as needed" basis, giving telecom service providers added flexibility in their efforts to provide broadband voice, data and video services to customers whose bandwidth requirements may change seasonally or due to major events. Bend control and fiber routing guides are included to protect and store slack cable and ensure adherence to industry standards.

CFIT and CFDP Interconnect pedestals join Charles Fiber Flexibility Point (CFFP) and Charles Fiber Cross-Connect (CFXC) pedestals in offering service providers a full range of pre-connectorized, above-grade fiber distribution solutions. CFFP pedestal fiber hubs offer the same design and environmental protection features as CFDP Interconnect Pedestals, but are intended as a cost-effective alternative to placing Fiber Distribution cabinets in the outside plant. Likewise, CFXC Pedestals provide an above-grade alternative to optical cross-connect cabinets in remote areas.

About Charles Industries, Ltd.

2009 marks Charles Industries' 41st year as a privately held, diversified manufacturing and technology company serving telecommunications, CATV, marine and industrial markets. Founded in 1968, the company is ISO 9001:2000 and TL 9000 registered and headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, with four additional U.S.-based manufacturing centers. For further information and a list of authorized Charles distributors, please visit www.charlesindustries.com or call (847) 806-6300.

Contact Information: For more information: Brad Wackerlin Charles Industries, Ltd. (847) 258-8458 bwackerl@charlesindustries.com