* HughesNet offering promo deals
By Traci Patterson
HughesNet, a high-speed Internet satellite provider, has introduced new promotional plans with no upfront fees for equipment or installation.
Also, through Sept. 30, new subscribers will be eligible for a $100 mail-in rebate.
HughesNet estimates that between 15 and 20 million households in the U.S. are not reached by terrestrial broadband such as cable and DSL. The company currently serves more than 350,000 consumers and small businesses and is available “anywhere, to anyone who has an unobstructed view of the southern sky,” the company said.
* Optibase IPTV encoder system chosen by ZTE Corp. in China
Optibase said it has entered a strategic alliance with ZTE in which the Chinese equipment supplier will use Optibase’s Media Gateway (MGW) platforms to provide MPEG-4/H.264 encoding and streaming solutions as part of its IPTV offering. ZTE claims customers in more than 100 countries worldwide.
* Trivia showdown at the Cable Center
By Mike Robuck
Local chapters of Cable Positive, Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) and National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) will match wits in a game-show like contest on their cable knowledge during The Cable’s Center’s inaugural Cable Center Showdown. The trivia challenge will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 10, during Cable Days. For more information about the event, go to www.cabledays.com.
* MegaPath provides Symbionics with voice services
By Brian Santo
MegaPath said that Symbionics, a custom IT development firm, has deployed MegaPath’s phone service bundle for small-to-medium sized businesses. Symbionics has signed on for MegaPath’s Duet service, which MegaPath said can be easily purchased and installed with no upfront costs.
With Duet, MegaPath is providing business-class T1 or SDSL Internet access and full-featured telephone service starting at $99 per month for two phone lines, and as low as $37 per line for up to 16 lines with unlimited inbound, local and long-distance calling in select markets nationwide.
* Procera helps Minn. co-op manage bandwidth
By Traci Patterson
Procera Networks Inc.’s PacketLogic 7600 platform has been selected by Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association.
The Minnesota cooperative will utilize the platform to manage bandwidth for its broadband and video services and to meet the technical assistance requirements of CALEA lawful intercept regulations.
