GTE May Extend New SONET Program to County in ’94

GTE California, based in Thousand Oaks, is considering extending its $80-million “information superhighway” telecommunications network to Ventura County in 1994. But even if the expansion materializes, GTE doesn’t expect it to result in increased hiring in the county.

Ventura County, GTE California’s home base, was left out of the first phase of SONET, or Synchronous Optical Network, which the company unveiled last week. SONET will bring the next generation of video information and entertainment to 16 communities in Los Angeles and Orange counties and to other GTE-served areas nationwide.

GTE spokesman Larry Cox said a final decision has not been made on whether Ventura County will be included in SONET’s second stage, but added that the chances are good.

If SONET does reach the county, it will be offered first to business, education, government and other institutional customers, even though the system includes such consumer-oriented services as video on demand, Cox said.

“Whatever happens, I don’t expect any immediate impact on our hiring plans in the county.” Cox noted that equipment used in SONET is produced mainly by units of AT & T.

The county’s economy could be affected, however, if business customers benefit from SONET’s features, Cox said.

He noted that the system offers ultra-high transmission speeds capable of sending a 500-page book in slightly more than two seconds.

Even though it isn’t yet part of SONET, Ventura County hasn’t been completely left out of GTE’s fiber-optic picture. The company plans to install a consumer-targeted system in a Newbury Park housing tract in August. The pilot project will allow customers to pay bills and call up movie releases, among other services.