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APA Cables & Networks Future-Proofs FTTP Deployments
Announces Cross-Connect Upgrade Kit for its OSP Cabinet Platform

Minneapolis, MN, January 8, 2007—APA Cables & Networks (APACN), a leader in fiber management solutions and wholly owned subsidiary of APA Enterprises (NASDAQ: APAT), today announced a complete Cross-Connect Upgrade Kit for  the APACN Fiber Scalability Center (FSC), the Company's product-line of Outside Plant (OSP) cabinets for any Fiber-to-the- Premise (FTTP) architecture. The FSC Upgrade Kit protects the cabinet investment, by allowing field technicians to convert a cabinet originally deployed in a traditional PON architecture, into a Cross Connect solution.   

Today's FTTP architectures typically utilize 1x32 splitters within an OSP cabinet.  However, as bandwidth demands increase, FTTP architects are predicting that lower count splitters, such as 1x16, 1x8 or even 1x4 configurations will be required. The Fiber Scalability Center (FSC) deployed today can support these changing architectures without changing the footprint of the cabinet or risk the investment of the cabinet already installed.

“To maximize the bandwidth potential of their available fiber, some of our FTTP clients see a need to implement or migrate to a home-run architecture, in which no splitter is utilized in the fiber plant,” commented Johnny Hill, APACN vice president of product management and development. “By way of the FSC Upgrade Kit, a broadband service provider can convert a cabinet servicing a FTTH PON to a FTTH home run scenario as customer bandwidth demands dictate.”

Rather than eliminate the splitter, in some environments network designers are deciding to move the splitter from the cabinet to the central office, be it for increased ease of serviceability, trouble-shooting or maintenance. The APACN FSC platform also allows the user to re-deploy the original splitter into a central-office configuration, eliminating the risk of splitter obsolescence.

The FSC Cross Connect Upgrade Kit is a turn-key solution available in 48-port pre-terminated modules complete with pre-terminated subassemblies, splice trays, and associated hardware for patch only and patch and splice applications. The Kit supports the entire line of APACN's FSC OSP cabinets.

The following table outlines the available capacity:

 More on the APACN Fiber Scalability Center The Fiber Scalability Center is designed for "grow-as-you-go" cost containment consistent with other cabinets.  Unique to the system is its easy installation and upgradeability, allowing companies to rollout FTTP services without a large initial expense. In comparison to competitive solutions where field engineers must route all the cables into a parking lot and then re-route the cables again when they go into service, APACN's “One-Touch” installation system, utilizing its unique slide-out “Valet Parking” design, reduces installation time because pigtails are “pre- parked” and do not need to be touched until service turn-up. It also provides for easy identification and protection of jumper cables and the ability to scale splitter capacity as demand requires.  The FSC supports patch & splice applications with an all-in-one 12-fiber cassette, the building block for all APACN cabinets. 

About APA Cables & Networks, Inc. APA Cables & Networks designs and manufactures a complete line of passive fiber optic connectivity solutions centered upon its Fiber Distribution System (FDS) and Fiber Scalability Center (FSC). The FDS and FSC product-lines support a wide range of panel configurations, densities, connectors and adapter options and is offered alongside an assortment of passive optical components. In addition, APA Cables & Networks provides a complete line of fiber and copper assemblies for controlled and outside plant environments. APACN is a wholly owned subsidiary of APA Enterprises, Inc. www.apaenterprises.com

Forward-looking statements contained herein are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and judgments about future developments in the Company's business. Certain important factors could have a material impact on the Company's performance, including, without limitation, delays in or increased costs of production, delays in or lower than anticipated sales of the Company's new products, the Company's ability to sell such products at a profitable price, the Company's ability to fund operations, and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect actual events.

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PRESS CONTACT:

Rebecca Harris
MarCom Manager
1.800.422.2537
rharris@apacn.com

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