TWC uses TandbergTV’s platform for small-market VOD deployment
By Traci Patterson
In order to provide video-on-demand (VOD) services to its small market subscribers, Time Warner Cable is utilizing Tandberg Television’s OpenStream digital services platform.
With TandbergTV’s system, TWC can manage the VOD services from its headquarters in Denver and deliver content nationwide via satellite distribution. TWC will also utilize TandbergTV’s Xport Producer to provide local on-demand content tailored to each location.
Four markets – Clarksburg, W.Va.; Dothan, Ala.; Fort Benning, Ga.; and Terre Haute, Ind. – are now live, and the company plans to expand services to 10 additional cities by the end of the year, for a total of 14 deployments in 11 states.
“The flexibility of Tandberg Television technology to interoperate with multiple VOD servers, billing systems and on-demand applications from our Denver headquarters was a key reason we chose its solution to support our VOD deployments thousands of miles away,” said Dick Amell, VP of engineering for TWC’s National Division.
The OpenStream solution, which incorporates the MediaPath Secure Content Delivery System and the Asset Management System, enables cable operators to deploy on-demand and nPVR services using satellite catcher technology and the operator’s choice of VOD servers, applications, billing systems and set-top components.
Charter Communications and TWC have previously announced large-scale deployments of the OpenStream system.
WOW! taps Nortel Networks for optical cable network build-out
By Mike Robuck
WOW! is teaming with Nortel Networks to build its next-generation network, which will include optical and Ethernet upgrades. The upgrade will aid WOW! in the delivery of its triple play services, particularly VOD.
The optical and Ethernet upgrades will give WOW! customers access to a larger library of VOD titles at speeds faster than the current service can provide. Nortel’s optical upgrade will also give WOW! a better foundation for future service enhancements.
“Nortel gives us the ability to further our customer-centric philosophy by simplifying and improving our network infrastructure in a cost-effective manner, enabling us to deliver new communications and entertainment options to our customers,” said Mike Brody, chief technical officer, WOW!, in a prepared statement.
The WOW! network expansion will serve customers in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. Network enhancements to support growth and ensure the quality of VOD and VoIP services will rely on the Nortel optical solution for cable operators, including the Nortel Optical Metro 5200, Nortel Optical Multiservice Edge 6500, Common Phototonic Layer (CPL), and Optical Manager Element Adapter Administration (OMEA).
Other enhancements include Nortel Global Services for cable operators, which allows WOW! to focus on core business objectives rather than day-to-day network management, according to Nortel.
Nortel’s Metro Ethernet portfolio, also being used by WOW!, includes multiservice optical and carrier Ethernet solutions. The portfolio enables service providers to address the growth of high-bandwidth video and data applications in their metro, regional and long-haul networks.
Occam releases new ONT, delays quarterly filings
By Traci Patterson
Occam Networks Inc. has launched the ON 2351 Optical Network Terminal (ONT) for multiple dwelling units (MDUs) and multiple tenant units (MTUs).
Occam designed the new 2300 series ONT to deliver triple-play services, including POTS, high-speed Ethernet data, VoIP and multiple HD video streams, to up to four residences or businesses.
Additionally, Occam has not filed its quarterly report for Q2, ended June 30, nor has it filed its Form 10-Q for Q1, ended March 31. The company has delayed these filings, as well as its Form 10-K for fiscal year 2006, “because its Audit Committee is conducting a review of Occam’s prior revenue recognition practices,” the company said.
NASDAQ has granted Occam’s request for continued listing on The NASDAQ Stock Market through Sept. 28, as long as Occam provides further information about the Audit Committee’s findings by Sept. 14 and submits its delinquent periodic filings to the SEC by Sept. 28.
Tollgrade’s buy of Teradyne op a done deal; sales SVP named
By Brian Santo
Tollgrade Communications completed its acquisition of Teradyne’s Broadband Test Division, a purchase first announced in May.
Tollgrade bought substantially all the assets and agreed to assume certain liabilities of Teradyne’s Broadband Test Division for approximately $12 million. Tollgrade expects the division could add up to $10 million to 2007 revenue.
“The addition of the Broadband Test Division from Teradyne to our portfolio significantly expands our leading market share of total metallic access lines under test by service providers around the world,” said Tollgrade President and CEO Mark B. Peterson.
Separately, Joseph Ferrara, a former Ericsson and Marconi executive, has joined the company as senior vice president of marketing and sales. Ferrara will have strategic management oversight of Tollgrade’s global marketing and sales initiatives, including business development, product management, sales management, corporate marketing and technical communications.
Tellabs adds Ethernet support to its optical transport system
By Brian Santo
Tellabs has added Ethernet switching and aggregation to its 7100 optical transport system (OTS), enhancing the system’s ability to support Carrier Ethernet services.
Tellabs said the system unifies SONET/SDH with a native Ethernet switching fabric and enhanced Ethernet aggregation capabilities, allowing service providers to deliver a variety of services, including ROADM, Carrier Ethernet, SAN, video, and SONET/SDH, relieving network operators from having to buy as many stand-alone Ethernet switches.
“The Tellabs 7100 OTS with ROADM gained a valuable measure of credibility via its inclusion in Verizon’s FiOS build out,” said Jason Marcheck, principal analyst – optical infrastructure, Current Analysis. “The addition of Ethernet switching and aggregation ensures that Tellabs has the products to meet the full range of operator requirements.”
Navini, AireWire sign service partnership agreement
By Mike Robuck
Navini Networks and AireWire announced a service partnership agreement under which AireWire will become a services partner and system integrator of Navini’s Mobile WiMAX 802.16e solutions equipment.
“We know Navini’s technology and Navini’s people,” said Walt Henley, president of AireWire, in a prepared statement. “We understand the technologies surrounding packet networks providing media-based services and IP mobility. Both of these technologies are critical elements of WiMAX implementations and many operators do not have this experience. We hope to enable operators by leveraging our technology and services to make their businesses successful quickly.”
AireWire intends to provide network and OSS integration services, engineering consulting, installation and management services to Navini’s customers. AireWire has experience embodied in its team with Navini technology as well as experience implementing carrier-class data networks for governments and private sector customers in the U.S.
Study: DVRs in one of every five U.S. households
By Mike Robuck
According to new consumer research from Leichtman Research Group, digital video recorders (DVRs) are now in more than one in every five households in the United States, which is up from one in every 13 households two years ago.
“The number of U.S. households with DVRs has rapidly increased over the past few years.
Fueled by a continued push from cable and DBS providers offering combination HD/DVR set-top boxes, LRG forecasts that the number of U.S. households with DVRs will grow to over 60 million by the end of 2011,” said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group Inc., in a prepared statement. “The growth of DVRs does not mean that the era of live TV viewing has ended – LRG estimates that 95 percent of all TV viewing in the U.S. is still of live TV.”
The study also found that 53 percent of DVR owners also have an HDTV set, and that the mean household income of DVR owners is 33 percent above average.
According to the research, while 84 percent of DVR owners rate the ability to skip commercials as very important, just 8 percent of DVR owners say it is the greatest benefit of having a DVR, which must be music to the ears of advertisers and ad agencies.
During the upfront ad season this past spring, a large number of broadcast and cable networks moved toward a measuring metric that included live viewing plus DVR viewing over three days following a show’s original airing.
Broadband Briefs for 8/21/07
* 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.
