AT&T has agreed to acquire Quickplay Media, the video streaming company serving more than 700 million viewers worldwide. “Our goal is simple: to deliver a rich entertainment experience – not a skinny bundle or limited service offering – on any device, anywhere our customers live, work or play,” AT&T says in a statement. “The technology, experience and employees that join AT&T from Quickplay will help us achieve that goal by giving us greater control of our end-to-end entertainment experience from the cloud to the network to the customer. This deal allows us to better design, implement and distribute streaming video in a way that works seamlessly with our apps, maximizes our leading wireless network and powers future generations of video delivered OTT.”
Quickplay’s technology will be part of the company’s recently announced streaming video services — DirecTV Now, DirecTV Mobile and DirecTV Preview — promised for the fourth quarter this year.
Nokia announced it has showed it is possible to achieve 10 Gbps symmetrical data speeds using traditional HFC cable plant. Using a prototype technology called XG-CABLE, the test reportedly demonstrates how existing cable systems can be used to deliver symmetrical ultra-broadband access services.
With the need for high-speed upload services growing due to demand for HD video uploads, real-time gaming, live streaming video and virtual or augmented reality, Nokia Bell Labs started to explore the feasibility of delivering symmetrical service over HFC in 2014. Demonstrating for the first time that the concept is valid and achievable, the XG-CABLE test used point-to-point cable topologies to deliver 10 Gbps symmetric data speeds over coaxial cable using 1.2 GHz of spectrum.
Still considered a proof of concept, the company says XG-CABLE can easily integrate into the CableLabs new Full Duplex DOSCIS 3.1 concept. “By leveraging the XG-CABLE technology, operators can effectively use existing HFC cables over the last 200 meters to provide upstream speeds never before achievable due to the limited spectrum available,” Nokia reports in a press release. “This will enable operators to more effectively bring ultra-broadband services to consumer locations that were not physically or economically viable unless fiber was brought all the way to the residence. XG-CABLE will also provide operators with greater agility in how they use and manage their spectrum.”
Cisco and Roku announced a collaboration to enable the Cisco VideoGuard Everywhere video service protection solution on Roku streaming players and Roku TVs. This alliance will reportedly enable VideoGuard Everywhere to support the Charter Spectrum TV app available on Roku devices.
VideoGuard Everywhere is a software-based video service protection solution encompassing conditional access (CA) and digital rights management (DRM). Cisco and Roku report they are working closely to pre-integrate the VideoGuard Everywhere security software into Roku firmware. All Roku devices will be automatically upgraded to include Cisco security software. Initial features and services the solution will be able to support for the Spectrum TV app for Roku devices will now include secure VOD and linear content playback, as well as control of the number of devices used simultaneously per subscriber account.
Indonesian service provider Biznet has selected Amdocs to provide a comprehensive customer care and billing solution. “In order to support our ambitious growth plans, we needed a solution that was rich in functionality, and could accommodate rapid customer growth and roll out of new services with innovative promotions and campaigns, while delivering a premier customer experience,” Adi Kusma, Biznet’s president director says. “With their impressive delivery track record and pre-integrated customer care and billing solution, Amdocs will be helping us meet our objective of becoming the country’s leading provider of networking solutions and multimedia through our commitment to world-class innovation, infrastructure and customer service.”