Calix boosts sales 50 percent

<p>Calix Inc. reported sales jumped 50 percent in the second quarter while the Petaluma telecom supplier cut its losses by more than 60 percent.</p><p>CEO Carl Russo credited the growth, in part, to businesses that are ramping up their network investments to meet consumers' almost insatiable demand for services.</p><p>“Broadband demand among our customers' subscribers remained strong,” Russo told Wall Street analysts Thursday.</p><p>They “face a changing market environment where consumers are consistently craving more broadband services.”</p><p>Calix posted $71.6 million in quarterly revenue, compared to $47.8 million for the same period last year.</p><p>The company lost $3.2 million in the quarter ending June 26, compared to last year's loss of $8.8 million. </p><p>Calix makes broadband access equipment that helps telephone and cable providers deliver voice, data and Internet service over their networks. </p><p>Russo said the company continues to gain from the federal government's $7.2 billion broadband stimulus program, which provides grants and loans for carriers to upgrade their networks in the rural U.S.</p><p>Calix customers received more than $100 million in first-round stimulus money, he said, much of it for “first mile” projects, and Calix has been awarded contracts with nine different recipients.</p><p>“Our unified access portfolio is well suited to first-mile projects,” Russo said. “(It's) a good fit for these projects moving forward.”</p><p>Calix has about 400 employees, most at its Petaluma headquarters. It has smaller facilities in Minneapolis and Boston.</p><p>Calix shares jumped 24 percent in after-hours trading, to $13.40, after the earnings were released. Its shares closed Thursday at $10.80, up 9 cents on the New York Stock Exchange.</p>