IPCC Appoints Service Provider/Integrator Board

The International Packet Communications Consortium (IPCC) has established a Service Provider Board to help guide the activities of the organization going forward. The following companies will serve on the IPCC Service Provider/Integrator Board:

• Axes Technologies -- Neil Addison, Vice President, Business Development



• Cbeyond Communications -- Chris Gatch, CTO



• IBM -- Rick Beatty, Worldwide NGN Business Development and Sales -- Level 3 Communications - Matt Collier, Senior Vice President - Enhanced Services



• Nextel Communications -- Ahmed Bencheikh, Senior Director, Switching and IP Core Network Architecture



• NTT Groups -- Michael Khalilian, Chief Technologies and Advisor



• Qwest Communications -- Joe Glynn, Vice President, IP Product Innovations



• Volo Communications -- Shawn Lewis, President

The IPCC is dedicated to the development of the market for all products, services, applications and solutions that utilize packet-based communications technologies, over the broadest range of transport mediums including wireless, copper, broadband, and fiber optics.
http://www.packetcomm.org

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Concurrent Introduces Digital Video Solution for DSL Operators

Concurrent Computer Corporation is introducing a digital video solution for on-demand television and on-demand video services over a DSL network. Concurrent's HFC-based MediaHawk Video-On-Demand (VOD) solution is deployed to millions of digital subscribers in North America. At the International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam, Concurrent is also showcasing a VOD solution for the hospitality market.
http://www.ccur.com

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Cogent Launches Prepay 10 Mbps Service

Cogent Communications is launching a new pre-paid, 10 Mbps connectivity service aimed at small to medium sized service providers who do not have long credit histories. The service is priced at $1,000 per month and is available from over 200 colocation facilities across the U.S. Specific terms of the offer will be posted on Cogent's website within 30 days.
http://www.cogentco.com

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SureWest Selects Irdeto Access

SureWest Communications, an integrated communications company delivering triple play services in the Sacramento, California region, will deploy Irdeto Access' conditional access technologies to support transmission of digital video and video-on-demand (VOD) programming over its new IP-based video network. Specifically, SureWest will use the Irdeto PIsys large-scale conditional access system and Irdeto Access Content Protection for IP in its FTTH and DSL networks for secure delivery of video programming.


Irdeto PIsys is a platform-independent, pay-media conditional access solution. It provides support for multiple operators on multiple sectors, allowing operators on a single network to share an Irdeto PIsys system. The Irdeto Access Content Protection for IP system provides session-based encryption including limited-life keys and encryption of individual VOD sessions.
http://www.irdetoaccess.com

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Irdeto Creates Conditional Access System for Mobile Devices

SK Telecom, a leading Korean telecommunications operator, is using a conditional access system (CAS) from Irdeto Access to deliver encrypted content to mobile phones, PDAs, and in-vehicle devices. The system uses Dual Key Hierarchy Protection, a technique that Irdeto claims significantly reduces CA-related bandwidth consumption while providing scalability beyond 10 million subscribers. Additionally, Irdeto Access' Rapid Refresh technique provides additional layers of countermeasures in the event of against piracy. The mobile solution is based on Irdeto's existing DVB conditional access system for large-scale satellite DTH, cable, IPTV, and terrestrial broadcasting networks.
http://www.irdetoaccess.com

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SBC Estimates New UNE-p Losses at $500M through 2005

SBC Communications estimates new UNE-p rules contained in the recently released Triennial Review order could cost the company an additional $500 million in lost revenue by the end of 2005. SBC said the new rules could allow competitors to access the company's high-capacity lines (EELs, or enhanced extended links) in order to avoid paying access charges and allow wireless phone companies, for the first time, to purchase network components at below-cost prices. SBC, the U.S. Telecom Association (USTA), Verizon Communications, BellSouth and Qwest Communications have asked a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. to stop the enactment of new rules.


Paul K. Mancini, SBC's senior vice president and assistant general counsel, said "All these rules are clearly illegal and they will have a harmful effect, not only on telecommunications providers like SBC, but on the economy as a whole."http://www.sbc.com

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NDS to Acquire Thomson's MEDIAHIGHWAY Middleware Business

NDS Group plc, a News Corporation company, will acquire Thomson's MEDIAHIGHWAY middleware business and has licensed certain related patents from Thomson for a total consideration of EUR60 million in cash. The companies have also entered into a strategic alliance to provide integrated solutions to digital TV operators and other network providers particularly in the field of middleware. The strategic alliance will seek to exploit the capabilities of NDS's software product solutions on Thomson's product portfolio, including set-top boxes, modems and head-end broadcast equipment. The companies will address the needs of existing customers as well as potential new customers in the US cable and broadband IP markets, and in other types of networks such as wireless and telephony.
http://www.nds.com/

• NDS recently acquired interactive TV technology assets from IDP in France.

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Thomson Announces Supply Agreement with News Corp.

Thomson signed a non-exclusive supplier agreement with News Corp., one of the world's largest media companies. The agreement encompasses broadband access products, pre-recorded home entertainment, motion picture film processing, post production services, broadcast and network equipment and systems, and licensing agent services.
http://www.thomson.net

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Microsoft Puts Windows Media Video 9 Codec on Standards Track

Microsoft is submitting the compression technology used in the Windows Media Video (WMV) 9 codec to the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) C24 Technical Committee for consideration as an openly available international standard. Windows Media Video 9 provides compression efficiency approximately three times that of MPEG-2. The technology scales from SD to HD video and can support multichannel audio, positioning it for content creation, broadcast production, content management and distribution over a variety of networks.


At this week's International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam, Microsoft is showcasing a number of applications where Windows Media 9 Series is being used to distribute content over IP and standards-based Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) and Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) networks. Microsoft is also highlighting hardware, middleware and content partnerships for Windows Media 9. These include:

• Monaco Telecom, working with Moviesystem of France, offers more than 400 movies in its VOD service using Windows Media Video (WMV) 9 Series streamed from Windows Server 2003.



• NTL Broadcast, Capital Radio and RadioScape will begin live IP datacasting of Windows Media Audio 9 Professional (WMA Pro) 5.1-channel content over L-Band in the central London area starting October 2003. The trial will deliver 5.1-channel surround sound at bit-rates as low as 128 Kbps.
  
  
• SES Astra will demonstrate high-definition 720p television transmission via Digital Video Broadcast -- Satellite (DVB-S) using Windows Media 9 Series at bit rates as low as 6 to 8 Mbps.



• TANDBERG Television has developed a professional broadcast-quality encoding platform for Windows Media 9 Series.



• Harmonic will add Windows Media Video 9 support to its DiviCom real-time encoding platforms, which also provide MPEG-2 compression.



• Set-top box manufacturers with Windows CE .NET-powered devices supporting Windows Media 9 include Biostar, Costron Company, Pace Micro, Samsung, Tcom&dtvro Co Ltd., and Wyse Technology.



• Alcatel has enhanced its carrier-class 5950 Media Manager software platform to support Windows Media 9 Series and Microsoft Windows CE .NET on a number of leading set-top hardware platforms.



• Orca Interactive Ltd.'s RiGHTv for Windows middleware enables live TV, near-video-on-demand (NVOD) and VOD services powered by the Windows .NET Framework and Windows CE.



• Stellar One Corp. is supporting Windows Media 9 Series in its middleware solution for IP broadband networks.



• Infogate Online's On Dema for IPTV utilizes the capabilities of Windows Media 9 Series to DSL operators, ISPs, satellite operators and broadcasters to deliver high-quality television services.



• SeaChange's VOD system now supports streaming of Windows Media 9 Series.

http://www.microsoft.com

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Connexion by Boeing Selects Intelsat for North Atlantic

Connexion by Boeing will use Intelsat's satellite service for its broadband in-flight service over North Atlantic routes starting in 2004. The connectivity will be provided via Intelsat's 907 satellite at 332.5 degrees E, the newest spacecraft in Intelsat's global fleet. The contract includes two transponder leases using 907's Ku-band Spot 1 beam for real-time transmission and reception of web pages, e-mail, data and entertainment content. Financial terms were not disclosed. Lufthansa and British Airways have been testing the service.
http://www.intelsat.com
http://www.boeing.com/connexion

• In August 2003, Connexion by Boeing announced that it is working with Tokyo-based Space Communications Corporation (SCC) to build out an Asia-Pacific gateway for its in-flight connectivity service. Specifically, Connexion by Boeing will lease transponder capacity on SCC's SUPERBIRD-C satellite located at 144 degrees east, providing the mobile information services provider with satellite coverage that supports the Asia-to-Europe airline routes.



• Also in August 2003, Connexion by Boeing signed a contract with Eutelsat for satellite transponder capacity covering key areas or Europe and Asia. The deal covers leased capacity on Eutelsat's SESAT satellite, which is located at 36 degrees East and provides a footprint stretching from the eastern Atlantic Ocean across the European continent and as far east as Central Asia.

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TiVo Cuts its Entry Level DVR to $200

TiVo will offer a $50 rebate to cut the entry price point for its 40-hour digital video recorder (DVR) to $199. An 80 hour TiVo DVR is priced at $299. The monthly TiVo subscription fee is $12.95. The company now claims a subscription base over 793,000.
http://www.tivo.com

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