SBC Communications has beefed up its “Project Lightspeed” IPTV initiative with people who know a thing or two about video services. Joining the programming team are: Amy Friedlander, formerly of Xantham Partners and now-defunct IP VOD provider Intertainer, will oversee advanced products and new media at SBC. Three former DirecTV execs: Chris Lauricella, who will […]
Cable One waxes wireless
Cable One Inc. is using wireless gear from Arcwave Inc. to offer high-speed data services to small-and medium-sized businesses that are unreachable by traditional coax. Cable One, a top 10 U.S. MSO, is deploying the vendor’s ARCXtend to wirelessly extend DOCSIS signals to business customers in 17 states. Arcwave marks the first wireless extension vendor […]
Harmonic passes FTTP video test
Harmonic Inc. said it has become the first fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) video transport vendor to win TL 9000 certification, a key metric among most telcos. Harmonic said the certification paves the way for it and its partners to install a video transport platform for Verizon Communications and other telco customers. Using the MAXLinkPlus 1550 nm Transmitter, […]
UTOPIA partner bows 10-meg data service
MSTAR has launched a symmetric 10 Mbps data service in Orem, Utah via the fiber-rich Utah Telecommunications Open Infrastructure Agency (UTOPIA) network. The service, marketed as MSTARmetro, sells for $39.95 per month and will cross swords with incumbent service providers Comcast Cable and Qwest. MSTAR plans to offer a 100 Mbps service “in the coming […]
Global broadband surpasses 150 M
The base of broadband subs worldwide has breached the 150 million mark after adding 51 million since the start of 2004, according to data from IMS Research. Noting that broadband growth is showing no signs of waning, IMS is forecasting that global broadband subscribers will breach 400 million sometime in 2009. Although cable modems will […]
Grande thinks big with Corning fiber
Grande Communications will use Corning Inc. ‘s “tip-to-tip” fiber platform to build out a 20,000-kilometer fiber-to-the-home deployment. Grande, a competitive service provider, is building a passive optical network (PON) this year that will eventually pass 23,000 homes in Austin and San Antonio. Under the deal, Corning is supplying Grande with its NexCor fiber, OptiSheath Advantage […]
With Verizon, TVN takes its act to the telcos
The video-on-demand future of TVN Entertainment Corp. brightened significantly this week after the company announced it will aggregate and distribute VOD fare for Verizon ‘s fiber-based “FiOS” TV service. Verizon, which expects to pass 3 million homes with fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) technology by the end of 2005, plans to launch video services later this year using […]
From Russia, with digital cable
National Cable Networks (NCN), a Russian cable MSO serving St. Petersburg, is deploying digital services with video compression and service management platforms from Harmonic Inc. Under the deal, the operator is using Harmonic’s DiviCom MPEG-2 encoders and NMX Digital Service Manager. NCN, which serves more than 1 million subscribers, is using its new compression capabilities […]
Time Warner Cable, Nortel get down to business
Time Warner Cable is deploying optical Ethernet and storage gear from Nortel Networks as part of a plan to expand business service offerings in New York City and parts of New Jersey. Financial terms were not disclosed. Under the deal, Time Warner’s network will be based on Nortel’s Optical Metro 5200 DWDM and Optical Metro […]
Sancom rides Wave7
Santel Communications Cooperative (Sancom) of Mitchell, S.D. has tapped Wave7 Optics Inc. to power a fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) network deployment. Sancom will use Wave7’s “Last Mile Link” platform to deliver IP-based voice, video and data services to residential and business customers in Mitchell, home of the famous “Corn Palace.” Santel, which is funding the network build […]