Sagem and ST Debut First Single-Chip MPEG4 Set-top Box

Sagem introduced the first MPEG4 set-top boxes based on a single-chip decoder. The new advanced range of STBs from Sagem employs ST's next-generation MPEG4 decoder chip for HDTV, the STB7100.



Sagem's first two STBs available in the new family are standard-definition (SDTV) models, the SAGEM ITD80 for Pay and Free-to-air DTT (digital terrestrial TV) broadcast reception, selected by CANAL+, and the SAGEM ITAD80 for both IPTV and Free-to-air DTT, already selected by several operators. Before the end of this year, Sagem will expand its new MPEG4 range of STBs, all based on ST's STB7100 decoder family, to include new HDTV-capable models for all transmission media (satellite, cable, terrestrial, and IP).


ST's single-chip MPEG4 decoder, which is implemented in 90nm process technology, embeds all the major functions of a STB in a single device, including a high-performance CPU, video-decoding circuitry, and a wide range of peripheral devices.


Sagem said it expects to ship at least 100,000 MPEG4 STBs by the end of 2005. Announced customers include France Telecom and Telecom Italia for the SAGEM ITAD80 for IPTV and free-to-air DTT (Digital Terrestrial TV), and Canal Plus for the SAGEM ITD80 for free-to-air and pay DTT.
http://www.sagem.com
http://www.st.com

• In June 2004, STMicroelectronics and Microsoft announced a partnership to develop a series of new integrated circuit components for extending the reach of high-quality, secure Windows Media 9 Series content, in both standard and high definition, to a wide range of popular devices such as set-top boxes and DVD players. ST will supply these new components to consumer electronics manufacturer for use in set-top boxes, DVD players, digital video recorders (DVRs), Portable Media Centers, home-networking devices, etc. In addition to standard formats, the devices will includes the following audio and video technologies: Windows Media Audio 9, Windows Media Audio 9 Professional (which delivers 5.1 or even 7.1 channels of discrete digital surround sound at bit rates as low as 128 kbps, and supports 24-bit resolution and 96 kHz sample rates to deliver better-than-CD quality sound), and Windows Media Video 9 (including VC-9).



• ST launched the world's first integrated MPEG2 decoder STB chips in the mid 1990s.

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Trilithic to Provide Emergency Alerts for Nortel's IPTV

Trilithic's Emergency Alert Systems will be offered as a part of Nortel's IPTV Ecosystem. As Trilithic's E.A.S. provides FCC mandated National Level Alerts for notifying the TV-watching public, as well as interruptions for National Weather Service weather warnings and the Amber Alert.


Trilithic's Emergency Alert System for IPTV provides a digital solution capable of various configurations for local and centralized channel insertion, and the flexibility of no channel insertion. Through a user-defined configuration, the E.A.S. alert message text and digitized audio is delivered on the IP network via Ethernet to a middleware server, or to a companion Encoder/Decoder in the Super Headend or Video Hub Office for distribution to an entire region or market with minimal hardware requirements.


Trilithic supplies E.A.S. solutions for broadband cable, low-power FM, broadcast TV and IPTV.
http://www.trilithic.com
http://www.nortel.com

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Hong Kong's PCCW Tops Half Million IPTV Subscribers

PCCW, the incumbent telecom operator in Hong Kong, has topped the half million mark for its now Broadband TV service. The milestone was reached one month ahead of the projected target date of December 31, 2006.


PCCW Ltd also announced the addition of major new channels on now TV, in line with its aim of providing a comprehensive range of top quality viewing options for subscribers. New content includes CNN International, HBO Family and HBO Hits, and new VOD titles from Star Chinese Movies.
http://www.pccw.com

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PCCW Rolls Out MPEG-4 AVC HD IPTV with Tandberg

Hong Kong's PCCW's now Broadband TV service is using TANDBERG Television's advanced compression solutions for its rollout of HD IPTV over DSL. The deal expands on the two companies' existing relationship and will make now TV Asia's first advanced encoding HD operator, as it deploys the TANDBERG HD encoding solution for MPEG-4 AVC.


The now Pay-TV service launched in 2003 and has been using TANDBERG Television MPEG-2 encoding for its premium channels. With the TANDBERG EN5990 MPEG-4 AVC encoder now TV will be able to deliver an HD service with sport, entertainment and news content in half the bandwidth that would have been required for the same picture quality with MPEG-2.


TANDBERG Television's MPEG-4 AVC HD systems are already deployed by other broadcasters and operators, including DIRECTV, BSkyB, JSAT and Premiere basing their HD services and trials on the encoding engine.
http://www.tandbergtv.com
http://www.pccw.com/eng

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Ericsson Acquires Australian Systems Integration Company TUSC

Ericsson announced the acquisition of TUSC, an Australian company that specializes in systems integration for telecommunications, utilities and enterprises. TUSC, which has around 80 employees, is a subsidiary company of Allied Technologies Group, listed on the Australian stock exchange. Financial terms were not disclosed.


Ericsson said this acquisition illustrates its ambition to further strengthen and develop its position within telecommunications services and the focus areas of systems integration, telecom management and operational support systems (OSS). The TUSC acquisition also allows Ericsson to diversify its customer base into a closely related sector -- utilities.
http://www.ericsson.com

• In October 2005, Ericsson agreed to acquire most of Marconi for approximately £1.2 billion (US$2 billion). The deal, which continues the trend of consolidation in the industry, gives Ericsson access to a more comprehensive portfolio of solutions, an expanded R&D capability, and strategically important customer accounts worldwide.

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Shaw Family Purchases One Million More Shares

The Shaw Family, and entities owned or controlled by them, completed the purchase of an additional 1,000,000 Class B Non-Voting Shares of Shaw Communications.


The Canadian communications company provides cable television, High-Speed Internet, Digital Phone, telecommunications services (through Big Pipe Inc.) and satellite direct-to-home services (through Star Choice Communications Inc.) to approximately 3.0 million customers.
http://www.shaw.ca

• Shaw Communications Inc. was incorporated in 1966 under the name Capital Cable Television Co. Ltd. It subsequently changed its name to Shaw Cablesystems Ltd. in 1984, and then to Shaw Communications Inc. in 1993. The company is the largest television supplier in Western Canada.

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Raptor Networks Raises $7.7 Million for Distributed Switching

Raptor Networks Technology, a supplier of modular switching technologies for video, VOIP, high speed storage and other latency sensitive network applications, announced $7.728 million in equity financing led by Brookstreet Securities Corporation. The terms of the transaction include warrants that give the investors the right to purchase additional common stock which, if exercised, would increase the total value of the funding to over $20 million.


Raptor Networks' has developed a "Distributed Network Switching Technology" blurs the distinction between core switching and edge switching. The company is based in Santa Ana, California.
http://www.raptor-networks.com

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Scientific-Atlanta Comments on Shareholder Suits

In response to two purported class action lawsuits related to its announced acquisition by Cisco Systems, Scientific-Atlanta said it believes the complaints are without merit and intends to defend the actions vigorously.


Scientific-Atlanta said its board engaged in a thorough and deliberative process to obtain the best transaction at the highest price available for its shareholders, culminating in the definitive merger agreement with Cisco, which was announced on November 18. As previously announced, Cisco is acquiring Scientific-Atlanta for $43 per share in cash in exchange for each share of Scientific-Atlanta, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $6.9 billion.
http://www.scientificatlanta.com/

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LG Electronics Launches First DVR with Microsoft Program Guide

LG Electronics launched the first DVR for North America featuring the new Microsoft Program Guide service.


The LG LRM-519 Digital Media Recorder (MSRP $599) is a combination digital video recorder (DVR) and DVD recorder powered by Windows Media Center Technologies with a 160-gigabyte hard drive.


The Microsoft Program Guide service is available through three subscription options: a one-month subscription for $9.99, a one-year subscription for $99.99 or a one-time subscription for $249. The service allows users to search up to 14 days of programs by title, keyword or category. The Microsoft Program Guide also provides the engine for the "parental controls" features that allow parents to monitor the programs their families can access.


The LG Digital Media Recorder can be added to the home network via wired Ethernet or an 802.11a/b/g wireless connection.
http://www.lgusa.com/

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Nokia Lands US$141 Million GSM Contract with India's BSNL

Nokia was selected for a comprehensive GSM/EDGE and GPRS network expansion project in North India by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). The expansion, valued at US$141 million, will include core and radio network equipment, and an extensive range of services.


The expansion will enable BSNL to significantly increase its network coverage and capacity in the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh (both east and west circles), Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.


The new contract is an extension of a US$284 million GSM/EDGE and GPRS contract signed by Nokia and BSNL in 2004.
http://www.nokia.com

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TeliaSonera Denmark Tests Motorola's UMA Solution

Following an initial six-month trial of Motorola's Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) solution, TeliaSonera Denmark is moving to phase two of the trial project -- making calls with Motorola A910 handset over the first 3GPP compliant UMA system in an operational network environment.


The market trial is an important step forward in delivering Motorola's vision of Seamless Mobility incorporating products and services from across the organization. The complete, fully tested UMA solution from Motorola includes network infrastructure, A910 handsets, and integration and deployment services. In addition, Motorola is developing UMA-based connected home solutions to enable seamless access around the home.


UMA offer TeliaSonera customers lower-cost mobile calls with better coverage in the home as well as a seamless mobile experience using a single device, single number, contacts book, voicemail and bill.
http://www.motorola.com

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T-Systems Teams with PROGNOSIS for VoIP

Integrated Research will supply its PROGNOSIS performance monitoring solutions to Deutsche Telekom's T-Systems division for a VoIP deployment in Germany. PROGNOSIS for IP Telephony is a suite of lifecycle management solutions spanning VoIP network-readiness assessment, pre-deployment assurance testing and ongoing performance management for Cisco IP Communications environments. The company also announced the opening of a new office in the center of Frankfurthttp://www.ir.com/http://www.t-systems.com/

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