BT Media & Broadcast Partners with Entriq for IPTV VOD Store

BT Media & Broadcast has formed an alliance with Entriq, a provider of pay media solutions that help service providers manage, protect and sell multimedia content to broadband, mobile and IPTV devices. The two organisations will work together to provide an end-to-end digital content delivery system including a digital store, that allows customers to sell high value content via the web and mobile platforms to consumers. Entriq's expertise, which encompasses encrypted content and subscriber management systems, will be integrated by BT Media & Broadcast into customer solutions for network operators.



BT Vision, the first joint network customer, is using the solution to enable consumers to download video entertainment to their PCs and portable media players from the BT Vision website (www.downloadstore.bt.com)http://www.entriq.com

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FLO Forum Spec Boosts Interoperability

The FLO Forum, a multi-company initiative led by QUALCOMM and dedicated to the global standardization of FLO (Forward Link Only) technology, introduced a new Multiplex Subsystem-to-Transmit Station Interface (MTI) specification that allows transmit stations from multiple manufacturers to be part of a single MediaFLO broadcast network. Transmit stations must be compliant with the MTI protocol to correctly broadcast a FLO waveform.



FLO technology is a new air interface originally developed by QUALCOMM with multicasting capabilities designed to increase capacity and reduce content delivery costs to mobile handsets.



The new MTI spec outlines the protocol for communicating FLO multiplex and control information from a FLO multiplexer subsystem in a FLO aggregation segment, to a transmit station. The FLO system supports multiple services including the video, audio, text and signaling components of a mobile multimedia multicast service. Technical requirements, such as the MTI specification, form a compatibility standard for FLO multimedia multicast systems.



At the FLO Forum's quarterly meeting held earlier this month in Toronto, Verizon Wireless executives held a presentation describing the evolution of video services within the Verizon network, why Verizon chose FLO technology, and how the company views the future growth of the mobile multicast market. In December 2005, Verizon Wireless announced that it is working toward launch multicast multimedia services using via the MediaFLO network in 2007.

http://www.floforum.org

• In June 2006, The FLO Forum ratified and adopted three cornerstone technical specifications: the Service Information Specification, the FLO Services and Use Cases Specification and updated versions of the FLO Device and Transmitter Minimum Performance specifications.

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New Edge Networks Adds Class of Service on MPLS VPNs

New Edge Networks plans to introduce class-of-service support for its MPLS network services. Starting Oct. 1, five classes of service will allow businesses to prioritize application data traffic over their IP-based VPN. The five classes of service are real time, interactive, enhanced, business class, and best effort.



New Edge Networks said it accelerated its MPLS enhancements through investments from EarthLink, which acquired the company in April.
http://www.newedgenetworks.com

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Ericsson to deliver IP DSLAMs to TOT in Thailand

Thailand's leading fixed-line operator, TOT, IP MSAN (Multi Service Access Node), which will be integrated into the operator's existing nationwide network architecture. This will allow TOT to deliver consumers services at up to 24 Mbps using ADSL2+. Financial terms were not disclosed.

http://www.ericsson.com

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Sony Pictures Acquires Grouper.com for $65 Million

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) has acquired Grouper.com, an independent video sharing community, $65 million.



"Consumers are spending more and more time on sites like Grouper, and as one of the world's largest creators of entertainment, we want to be where the audiences are," said Michael Lynton, SPE Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

http://www.sonypictures.comhttp://www.grouper.com

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China Netcom Completes Sale of Asia Netcom to Investor Group

China Netcom Group completed the sale of its Asia Netcom to an Investor Group led by Ashmore Investment Management Limited, Spinnaker Capital Limited and Clearwater Capital Partners.



The total value of the deal is at US$402 million.

http://www.china-netcom.comhttp://www.asianetcom.com

• In March 2006, Asia Netcom completed a major network upgrade that will bring a 50% increase in lit capacity to its pan-Asia submarine cable systems, EAC. As part of the upgrade, 10 Gbps was lit up on each of EAC's four fiber pairs, effectively adding 40 Gbps of new bandwidth to EAC's existing 80 Gbps. The EAC system spans 19,500 km within Asia connecting Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong and soon, China.



• China Netcom purchased the former Asia Global Crossing and launched Asia Netcom in 2003.

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AT&T Selects HomePNA 3 over MoCA for In-home Networking

AT&T has selected HomePNA 3 technology for in-home distribution of its U-verse services, including its forthcoming IPTV offering, high-speed Internet, and VoIP.



HomePNA 3 technology will be integrated into IP set-top boxes supplied by Motorola and Scientific Atlanta and Residential Gateways supplied by 2Wire as key components of AT&T's U-verse deployment.



AT&T said it chose the technology following extensive testing in AT&T Laboratories and other test environments.



"Based on our research, we believe HomePNA 3 technology is the best option for distributing IP-based video services inside customers' homes," said David Deas, vice president--networks & services, AT&T Laboratories Inc. "The ability to work over both coaxial cable and traditional phone lines is a key advantage and we look forward to working with the industry to enhance and standardize the technology."http://www.att.com

• The HomePNA 3.0 spec, which was standardized by the ITU in May 2005, reaches a data rate of 128 Mbps with optional extensions reaching up to 240 Mbps. It also features a deterministic QoS mechanism so that it can be used as a high speed backbone for distributing multiple, feature-rich digital audio and video applications throughout a home. The QoS technology permits users to assign specific time slots for each stream of data guaranteeing that the real-time data will be delivered when it is required with predetermined latency and without interruption, allowing HomePNA V3 to transport data with inherent QoS requirements such as IEEE1394.



• In March 2006, the HomePNA alliance announced plans to extend the 3.0 specification to deliver up to 320 Gbps over existing wires in homes. The HomePNA 3.1 specification is intended to provide the highest speed option for in-home distribution of new triple-play services such as IPTV.



• In December 2005, AT&T awarded a $43 million, one-year contract to 2Wire to supply its new IP-based residential gateways for the forthcoming AT&T U-verse suite of services.



• In September 2005, AT&T (formerly SBC Communications) announced an agreement with Motorola and Scientific-Atlanta to provide set-top boxes for AT&T U-verse TV. These set tops will connect to the residential gateway to deliver the IP video to TVs.



• In June 2006, AT&T began offering its "AT&T U-verse" services in San Antonio -- its first IPTV market. AT&T expects to offer its U-verse services in 15 to 20 markets (metropolitan statistical areas) within its traditional 13-state wireline area by the end of 2006.

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Tut Systems Raises $10.8 Million in New Funding

Tut Systems, which supplies content processing and distribution products for digital video, announced the pending sale of $7.0 million of 8% convertible notes to private investors. The company also issued to the investors common stock purchase warrants to purchase 2,815,768 shares of common stock. If exercised in full for cash, the warrants would provide an additional $3.8 million in proceeds to the company.

http://www.tutsys.com

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Kasenna Names VP of Engineering

Kasenna, a developer of VOD and MPEG-4 ready IPTV systems, has hired Sanjay Mehta as its vice president of engineering. In his new role, Mehta will be responsible for managing all of Kasenna's engineering and QA activities and resources in the Sunnyvale, California headquarters and the company's R&D center in Bangalore, India.



Mehta previously served as senior director of global systems development at Quantum Corporation and prior to that was senior vice president of engineering and operations at Five9, a hosted call center technology and services company. In addition, Sanjay held the position of senior vice president of engineering at DirecTV Broadbandhttp://www.kasenna.com

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Deutsche Telekom's WiFi Net Grows to 17,000 owned HotSpots

T-Com and T-Mobile now have roughly 17,000 owned HotSpots - the largest international public WiFi network in the world, according to Deutsche Telekom -- with even access points available through its roaming partners. The carrier said the combined HotSpot offering of T-Mobile and T-Com is a unique bargaining chip that strengthens its T-brand.



Deutsche Telekom's international arm for wholesale, International Carrier Sales & Solutions (ICSS), provides other WiFi providers across the world, such as France's Bouygues Telecom, with an roaming connectivity.

http://www.telekom.de

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Cisco to Acquire Arroyo for VOD Servers

Cisco Systems agreed to acquire privately-held Arroyo Video Solutions, Inc., a developer of on-demand video servers, for approximately $92 million in cash.



Cisco said it plans to integrate the Arroyo platform into the Cisco IP-NGN (Next Generation Network) architectural framework "to help enable carriers to accelerate the creation and distribution of network delivered entertainment, interactive media and advertising services across the growing portfolio of televisions, personal computers, mobile handsets and emerging media capable devices in our increasingly connected lives."



The Arroyo team includes Drew Major, an original founder of Novell and industry icon recognized for his expertise in network operating systems, distributed systems and content delivery networking (CDN). Also joining is Paul Sherer, former chief technology officer at 3Com and key contributor to a broad portfolio of networking patents and technologies. Arroyo was founded in 2002 and has 44 employees based in California and Utah.



Under the terms of the agreement, Cisco will pay The a
Upon close of the transaction the Arroyo team and product portfolio will be integrated into the Cisco Cable & Video Initiatives Group, within the Service Provider organization led by Volpi.

http://www.cisco.comhttp://www.cisco.com

• Arroyo's OnDemand video networking software allows the network operator to geographically distribute the functions of ingest, storage and streaming anywhere in the network and manage them as a cohesive unit. Multiple, distributed industry-standard servers can work together as one centrally managed virtual server. Arroyo also provides offers a workflow-based VOD management system.



• Arroyo also offers a network personal video recorder (nPVR) solution that enables operators to use existing set-top boxes. The system provides the ability to simultaneously ingest 4,000 channels of 3.75 Mbps MPEG-2 video in one rack of industry standard servers - 100 channels of ingest for every 1.75 inches of rack space.



• Arroyo is headed by Rick DeGabrielle (CEO), who previously was Vice President of Sales and Business Development for Catena Networks (acquired by Ciena for $500 million). Prior to Catena, Rick held executive positions at Network Equipment Technologies, AccessLAN, and Cascade Communications.



• Arroyo raised more than $25 million in venture funding, including a $12 million Series B round in March 2005. The round was led by Matrix Partners, a top venture capital firm, with participation by all existing investors including: DCM - Doll Capital Management, Foundation Capital, Time Warner Investments and Comcast Interactive Capital.

Cisco's Recent Acquisitions

Arroyo Video Solutions	VOD servers	$92 million	Aug 06
Meetinghouse Data Communications	client-side 802.1X supplicant security software	$43.7 million	Jul 06
Metreos Corp	IP communication application development and management environments	$28 million	Jun 06
Audium Corp	VoiceXML speech self-service application development and management environments	$19.8 million	Jun 06
SyPixx	video surveillance software and hardware	$51 million	Mar 06

More Cisco acquisitions:

http://www.convergedigest.com/mergers/mergersCisco.asp

 

 

 

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Micronas and Planetweb Partner on IPTV and Hybrid DVB Set-top Boxes

Micronas, which supplies application-specific IC system solutions for consumer electronics, announced an alliance with Planetweb, a leading provider of embedded software and developer tools for the consumer electronics industry. The companies are jointly working on fully-featured reference designs for IPTV and Hybrid IPTV/Digital Broadcast Television set-top boxes. The product designs incorporate both the Micronas DeCypher DHM 8100 High-Definition Multi-format Decoder and Planetweb's SpectraWorks user interface platform and applications.



The Micronas DeCypher DHM 8100 ASIC provides the ability to decode both H.264 high profile and VC-1 advanced profile at level 4. The DeCypher DHM 8100 is a streaming media processor that can be customized through its modular software architecture. http://www.micronas.comhttp://www.planetweb.com

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Infinera Hires VP of Systems Engineering

Infinera has appointed Rusty Cumpston as Vice President of Systems Engineering. Prior to joining Infinera, Cumpston served as Senior Vice President of Engineering at XenSource Inc. From 1998 to 2002, he served as VP of Engineering and then Chief Operating Officer at ONI Systems, a pioneer in metro DWDM optical systems. http://www.infinera.com

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Harmonic to Acquire Entone's Video Networking Software Business

Harmonic agreed to acquire the video networking software business of Entone Technologies, a privately-held software developer specializing in IPTV VOD and other digital video solutions for commercial broadcasters. The agreed upon purchase price of $45 million is comprised of $26 million in cash and the value of approximately 3.54 million shares of Harmonic common stock. In addition, Harmonic will assume certain liabilities of $1.5 million and invest $2.5 million in the form of a convertible note in Entone's consumer premise equipment (CPE) business, which will be spun out to Entone's existing stockholders immediately prior to the closing of the acquisition.



Entone's software solutions are designed to handle content ingest, distributed content management and video streaming -- facilitate the provisioning of personalized video services including video-on-demand (VOD), network personal video recording (nPVR), time-shifted television and targeted advertisement insertion. By combining Harmonic's industry-leading video headend, edge and access network solutions with Entone's on-demand software, Harmonic will be able to provide cable, satellite and telco/IPTV service providers an advanced and uniquely integrated delivery system for the next generation of both broadcast and personalized IP-delivered video services.



Entone claims over 35 deployments of its IPTV VOD solution, with over including PCCW, the largest IPTV operator.



Entone is based in San Mateo, California, with research and development facilities in Hong Kong.



"Our industry is in the midst of an exciting and fundamental transformation to an increasingly on-demand video experience," said Patrick Harshman, President and CEO of Harmonic Inc. "By bringing together Harmonic's market-leading encoding and stream processing products and Entone's innovative software suite for managing and streaming personalized video content, we will create a powerful and integrated solution for the emerging on-demand network. In the cable and satellite markets, where Harmonic enjoys strong customer relationships and a large installed base, this comprehensive solution will be a great benefit to our customers as they expand and extend their offerings with new on-demand services. In IPTV, where both Harmonic and Entone have established early leadership positions in our respective solution areas, the combination of our businesses creates a clear industry leader."http://www.harmonicinc.comhttp://www.entone.com

• In September 2005, Entone Technologies introduced its "Armada" asset allocation solution for managing libraries of VOD titles. The system goes beyond static VOD content distribution systems by dynamically and cost-optimally placing video assets in the appropriate location and storage media based on their real-time popularity.
  
  
  
  Entone's Armada asset allocation system anticipates that RAM will be the most appropriate storage medium for the most popular, but few video assets in a library. However, the cost of RAM storage is hundreds of times more expensive than other storage options (such as SATA) that are more appropriate for less popular "long tail" content.
  
  Armada distributes assets in real-time to the most optimal storage, server, or network based on real-time usage data. This compares to other video server solutions that typically rely on a static, “best guess�? approach to asset placement. Since viewer behavior can't always be predicted, Armada continuously makes adjustments to storage assignments so that every storage device is fully utilized with the right balance of streaming capacity to storage space.


• In October 2003, Entone secured $16 million in an oversubscribed Series B financing round. The round was co-led by Menlo Ventures, Palomar Ventures, and BA Venture Partners.

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Thales and Alcatel Encrypt DWDM Wavelengths

Thales and Alcatel announced a breakthrough in securing DWDM wavelengths -- a capability especially suited for financial and government applications. While traditional DWDM-based encryption services have been limited to the entire fiber, Thales and Alcatel have demonstrated per-wavelength encryption.



The Thales SONET "Datacryptor" has successfully demonstrated encryption of an aggregate SONET signal generated by an Alcatel 1677 SL provisioned with optional DWDM modules and Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFA). In addition to providing DWDM-based encryption, the testing validates that the Thales SONET Datacryptor does not introduce significant delays or impairments when used with ITU optics for SONET protection schemes, including Linear, Unidirectional Path-Switched Ring, and Bidirectional Line-Switched Ring.



The Datacryptor SONET devices are transparent to the Alcatel SONET switching equipment and offer customers scalability and central management. All of the Datacryptor products including the low speed link, T1/E1, T3/E3, 10/100M IP, Gigabit Ethernet and, SONET (OC-3, OC-12, OC-48, OC-192) can be managed by a single secure management application. The Element Manager is a key differentiator for the Datacryptor products.

http://www.alcatel.comhttp://www.thales.com

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NTT DoCoMo to Implement New Congestion Control System for 3G FOMA Network

NTT DoCoMo announced plans to separately manage call and data packet transmission congestion over its 3G "FOMA" network to prevent voice traffic congestion control from affecting packet communication traffic and vice versa.



Currently, excessive congestion in either voice or data transmissions can force DoCoMo to limit network usage for both voice and data in order to prevent network breakdown.



NTT DoCoMo said one result of the move is the increased ability to successfully transmit text messages via i-mode mail, or to DoCoMo's "i-mode" Disaster Message Board service, even if voice traffic should rise sharply during a major disaster.

The i-mode Disaster Message Board service, launched on January 17, 2004, enables i-mode subscribers to post text messages on a special i-mode site.

The new system will initially apply only to selected handsets. A similar control system for the 2G mova network was implemented in April 2004.

http://www.ntt.co.jp

• In January 2004, NTT DoCoMo launched an i-mode Disaster Message Board service that allows subscribers in Japan to post personal messages for friends and relatives who might not otherwise be able to contact them in the immediate aftermath of a national disaster, such as a high-magnitude earthquake. NTT DoCoMo said that should a major disaster occur, its network will undoubtedly be extremely busy as — in addition to the heavy traffic among administrative and relief agencies, ordinary users in the affected locale typically attempt outside contact to worried relatives and friends. In the event of severe network congestion, the new packet-based i-mode Disaster Message Board will be given sufficient priority to ensure that it continues to function. Each i-mode user in the disaster area would be able to click an on-screen menu enabling him or her to post up to 10 messages of 100 Japanese characters each. Someone wishing to check for a message left by a person in the disaster area would connect to the Disaster Message Board site, and input that person's cell phone number to display any registered messages.

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Hughes Validates SPACEWAY Broadband IP Capabilities

Hughes Network Systems completed a 30-day program of over-the-air (OTA) testing of the broadband IP capabilities of DIRECTV's SPACEWAY 2 satellite. Hughes was able to conduct performance tests in the areas of transmission, user traffic stability and reliability, air interface protocols, user network interfaces, and back-end systems for billing and customer service.



The verification of hardware and software systems were in preparation for the launch of SPACEWAY 3, scheduled for early 2007, with commercial service planned later in the year.



Hughes developed the SPACEWAY system with Boeing as the major subcontractor on the space segment components. As a full IP-based system, SPACEWAY supports a large variety of web, data, voice, and video services for both unicast and multicast applications in a standards-compliant fashion. SPACEWAY terminals also implement custom enhancement proxies for application acceleration using TCP and HTTP protocols.



Hughes has built a scalable Network Operations and Control Center (NOCC), installed at its Germantown Maryland headquarters, which anchors control functions for network addressing, registration, network security, admission control and multicasting. The NOCC also provides satellite payload management, capacity planning, terminal management, customer care and network management functions. The SPACEWAY architecture can scale up to two million terminals per satellite and will provide coverage with multiple spot beams across the U.S. including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico, as well as in selected areas in Canada, Mexico, and major cities in South America.



Hughes said the successful completion of these tests has validated the SPACEWAY design, large-scale software development, and custom ASIC and hardware development for small format terminals.

http://www.hns.com

• In December 2005, Hughes Network System (HNS) awarded a launch services contract to Sea Launch for the launch of the SPACEWAY 3 satellite projected for early 2007.
  
  
  
  The SPACEWAY 3 satellite will operate in the globally assigned Ka-band spectrum at 95 degrees West Longitude and will support a range of new high-speed communications services for IP data and multimedia applications to North American enterprise, consumer, and government customers.
  
  
  
  SPACEWAY 3 is a Boeing 702 spacecraft and will have the ability to switch and route traffic on board, enabling single-hop communications between any two satellite terminals and eliminating the need for the traffic to be routed through a central hub earth station. SPACEWAY's advanced antenna technology allows the dynamic formation and shaping of spot beams, creating the opportunity to manage capacity flexibly and to deliver true bandwidth-on-demand services.

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Verizon Business Adds IP Tollfree Service and IP IVR

Verizon Business introduced three new IP-based capabilities for its Contact Center Services and VoIP portfolio: IP Tollfree Service; IP IVR, an interactive voice- response system for contact center services; and new IP Trunking options.



IP Tollfree -- routes incoming toll-free calls over IP to enable greater efficiency and support multiple-contact media, such as phone calls, e-mail or instant messaging from around the globe. The service enables contact center agents to transfer calls using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). Because IP Tollfree is a network-based service, companies do not have to own and operate gateway equipment.



IP IVR -- provides call processing in a pure IP environment over a carrier-grade, global network infrastructure, enabling customers to benefit from network efficiencies such as voice compression and dynamic bandwidth allocation. The service offers administrators a selection of call- routing and processing features and terminates incoming calls to both Time Division Multiplexer (TDM) and IP endpoints.



IP Trunking -- delivers VoIP access and essential telephony features to locations with as few as 200 and as many as 1,000 or more end-users. Verizon Business' IP Trunking is available in the United States and select European markets.



Verizon Business has designed and certified IP Tollfree and IP IVR to be compatible with Avaya Communication Manager with SIP enablement services (SES) 3.1 software and other leading SIP- enabled endpoints. Avaya Communication Manager with SES is also certified for IP Trunking. With IP Trunking, companies that have already invested in Avaya IP phones to now connect on a single, converged access line for both internal and external traffic.

http://www.verizonbusiness.com

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Ball State University Deploys Firetide Wireless Mesh

Ball State University, named Intel's "Most Unwired Campus" in 2005, deployed Firetide's mesh solution to provide students with a variety of wireless services including live video and a mobile WiFi mesh network for the campus shuttle bus.



Firetide nodes are self-forming and self-healing. Because Firetide's mesh is rooted in Ethernet technology, ports can be used for video surveillance cameras as well as other devices. Using redundant paths, the system allows for continuous connectivity if a node is disabled or a line-of-sight obstruction enters the picture.



Equipment for the project included both indoor and outdoor Firetide mesh nodes operating at 5.8 GHz. This frequency was selected to reduce the possibility of contention with other wireless equipment already installed on campus. For its wireless mesh network, the school acquired five Firetide 3203 HotPort outdoor wireless mesh nodes and two Firetide 3103 HotPort indoor wireless mesh nodes. Gateway connections in nearby buildings linked the wireless mesh to the rest of the schools' wired campus network.

http://www.firetide.com

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Novera Optics Launches 16 DWDM Access Transport Platform

Novera Optics introduced a DWDM fiber-to-the-x (FTTx) optical access transport platform that utilizes identical colorless Gigabit Ethernet DWDM optical transceivers to deliver 20 Gbps of symmetrical bandwidth over a single feeder fiber. Based on Novera Optics' "Lambda-PON" automatic wavelength-locking technology, the new TurboLIGHT16 platform eliminates the need for expensive wavelength-specific optical network units (ONUs). It carries 16 1.25-Gbps bidirectional data streams using 32 independent wavelengths. In addition, the system provides the flexibility of mixed-mode capabilities, allowing transport at different bit rates (125 Mbps to 1.25 Gbps) on the same platform. Novera's existing "SpeedLIGHT" modules provide a bit rate of 125 Mbps.



TurboLIGHT16 is being offered in both modular form for integration by system vendors and in complete system form for plug-and-play use by telecom carriers deploying FTTx broadband access technologies, for which it greatly reduces capital equipment costs and operating expenses. The product will be available in Q4 of 2006.

http://www.noveraoptics.com/technology/turbolight.php

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