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Cable MSO News (Before 10/01/06)

Note: For Cable MSO news after 10/01/06, please go to Optical Networking

Telcos are fighting an "arms race" with cable MSOs
Telecom service providers are fighting an "arms race" with cable MSOs, Citigroup analyst Michael Genovese said, encroaching on each other's traditional services. The cable companies "are finding increasing success winning subscribers for voice and data services, and the telco carriers have countered with multi-year investment projects to upgrade networks for triple and quadruple play services, including voice, data, wireless, and video."
This is pushing carriers to spend more on optical technology, benefiting the sector.
"In order to deliver video or IPTV (Internet Protocol Television), the carriers are pushing fiber deep into the access networks and adding significant metro and core optical capacity," Genovese wrote.
The analyst expects telcos to quicken the pace of their network upgrades in the first half of 2007 in order to stay competitive with cable companies.
Related Channels: Video, Cable MSO

Top Story: China pushes IPTV further
Southern Media Corporation, China's first provincial-wide media group serving in Guangdong Province, has obtained the nation's 3rd IPTV license for operation in across the country.
Earlier in April 2005, Shanghai Media Group got the first IPTV license, and one year later the Internet operation of China Central Television (CCTV) in Beijing also received such a license.
Now China's State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT) has granted all its three licenses for IPTV to media groups (Chinese cable MSOs) under its administration.
Despite the hard petition of China's two leading telecom operators (telcos) China Telecom and China Netcom, SARFT never gave them the licenses because China' telcos are under MII's administration.
However, in order to promote IPTV in China, the SARFT has approved the telcos to join hands with the license holders (the Chinese cable MSOs) after gaining the approval of operating the IPTV in certain areas. (GEF believes China's powerful NDRC probably urged SARFT to do so in the nation's interest although there is no report and analysis on that.)
With the accelerated popularity of IPTV in China, the SAFT has recently granted 10 more cities to build up IPTV networks and provide related services, all under the business coverage of Shanghai Media Group.
The country's two major fixed-line telcos, China Telecom and China Netcom, will go into partnership with Shanghai Media Group in the IPTV projects in these cities.
Specifically, the northeastern cities of Shenyang, Dalian, Panjin, Hehe and Mudanjiang, will be in the partnered operation of China Netcom; while China Telecom will cooperate for projects in southeastern cities of Taizhou, Fuzhou and Xiamen, as well as Xi'an and Hanzhong cities of northwestern Shaanxi Province.
GEF believes China's NDRC is behind the scene for the cooperation between state-owned telcos (under MII) and state-owned cable MSOs (under SARFT).
In the U.S., there is no such powerful government agency as China's NDRC. The US telco giants (AT&T and Verizon) are fighting with cable MSOs (Comcast, Time Warner, Fox, etc.). The only US telco partnering with cable MSOs is Sprint, mainly a mobile phone operator.
Related Channels: China, Video, Cable MSO

Top Story: Shanghai Media Group (SMG) and Datang Mobile partner on mobile TV terminals and standards (DMB + TD-SCDMA)
Shanghai Media Group (SMG)'s affiliate SMG New Media Company has reached a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Datang Mobile for work on mobile phone TV terminals and standards.
The two parties will jointly develop and promote DMB mobile phone television solutions based on China's national 3G standard (TD-SCDMA). The DMB mobile phone television makes use of wireless digital broadcasting technology. It features low cost components and wideband reception.
SMG has been working with China Mobile on mobile phone TV since September last year. At present, its mobile phone television can support more than 20 types of digital audio frequency programs and up to four normal TV programs.
The companies estimate that by 2008, mobile phone TV users will account for about 9% of the total mobile phone users in China.
China's mobile phone users topped 431 million at the end of July.
Related Channels: China, Video, Wireless

Top Story: SARFT: China to launch trial DMB mobile TV services in 2007 ahead of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
China's State Administration for Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has announced plans to try DMB (digital multimedia broadcasting) mobile TV services in mid-2007 a year ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Transmission of TV signals to mobiles will be tested in mid-2007 and the satellite system activated in the first half of 2008 so that the Olympic Games can be projected to millions of mobile users across the country.
China's two biggest mobile telecom operators, China Mobile and China Unicom, are expected to sign agreements at the end of the month with mobile phone makers to buy TV handsets.
Besides mobile phones, big-screen personal digital assistants (PDAs) and MP4 players will also be able to receive TV signals, said Yang Qinghua, an official with SARFT's broadcasting science research institute.
China will soon announce its own national terrestrial digital TV standard, said Wang Lian, vice director of SARFT's technology department.
Terrestrial digital TV transmission can deliver signals both to fixed TV sets and mobile televisions such as the ones on buses.
When the trial operation is launched, mobile users will be able to download TV programmes from an operator's network or receive signals directly via an integrated mobile chip.
China has more than 431M mobile phone users (as of 7/31/06) and the number is increasing by 5M a month, according to the Ministry of Information Technology (MII).
Related Channels: China, Video, Wireless

J:COM picks LongBoard for FMC trial
Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd. (J:COM), Japan's largest cable MSO with over 2.2 million subscribers, has selected LongBoard, Inc. to conduct a trial in October leading to an early commercial launch of a Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) service.
When launched, it will be the first FMC service for the residential market in Japan and potentially one of the largest FMC deployments in the world.
The FMC service will allow J:COM subscribers with a dual mode cellular/PHS and WiFi phone to make and receive phone calls over either network. The J:COM trial will focus on residential subscribers who will use a dual mode phone in place of cordless handset.
The LongBoard MultiMedia Application Platform (LMAP), a proven, carrier-grade IMS-compatible converged services platform, will be utilized by J:COM for the FMC service. LMAP uses SIP standard software for seamless handover of calls between fixed and mobile networks using one telephone number. LongBoard's software is fully 3GPP IMS compliant and is being currently trialed with several operators elsewhere in the world in addition to J:COM.
Related Channels: Wireless, Cable MSO

Motorola broadens VoIP cable modem offerings with SIP Protocol
Motorola, Inc. expanded its family of voice-enabled cable modems with the introduction of the SBV5100 series. The new models, based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), one of the more common voice and multimedia protocols in the telecommunications industry, provide greater choice to cable operators as they select the ideal technology for their systems.
With the pending emergence of PacketCable(TM) 2.0, which includes IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), many cable operators are adopting or evaluating SIP-based devices for their networks -- SIP is an emerging standard of choice for Inter-network communication. SIP, along with Quality of Service (QoS) based on PacketCable Multimedia (PCMM), provides a foundation for the delivery of advanced services, including fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) -- allowing consumers to "hand off" a cellular call to a Wi-Fi® network and landline phone, rich multimedia communications, such as interactive video sessions, secure signaling and encryption, and flexible Network Address Translation (NAT) and firewall traversal technologies like Simple Traversal of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) Through Network Address Translators (STUN). The addition of SIP-based devices can provide operators with a viable migration path toward PacketCable 2.0.
"Operators around the world are already making the move toward SIP-based products," said Charles Dougherty, corporate vice president, Motorola Connected Home Solutions business. "By providing a voice-enabled cable modem with the SIP protocol, Motorola enables cable operators to not only expand their offerings with voice today, but to lay the foundation for new feature-rich voice and multimedia services, such as fixed-mobile convergence. This new family of gateways further establishes Motorola as a global leader in Voice-over-IP technology that fuels growth for operators and extends the concept of seamless mobility for consumers."
The Motorola SBV5100 series is expected to be available by the end of 2006.
Related Channels: VoIP, Cable MSO

Motorola unveils Powerline MU for broadband
Motorola delivers broadband coverage to multi-unit buildings through standard electrical systems with powerline MU
Motorola, Inc. Wednesday introduced a multi-unit (MU) building broadband solution, Powerline MU, that is the latest addition to the company's MOTOwi4(TM) portfolio. The Powerline MU solution delivers broadband access through a pervasive, existing network -- the building's electrical wiring. When combined with Motorola's Canopy® platform or one of Motorola's wi4 WiMAX solutions for backhaul, Powerline MU can provide affordable, always-on Internet connectivity access through standard power outlets within a building.
The Powerline MU solution converts Ethernet signal to a HomePlug® protocol with a Powerline MU Gateway located within the building. The gateway injects the signal directly into a building's electrical system. Users can then connect their computer or router to a Powerline modem that is plugged into a standard electrical outlet to gain access to the Internet.
Powerline MU is scheduled for commercial availability during Q4 2006 with initial introduction in North America, followed by anticipated availability in other markets.
"Powerline MU is a very cost-effective way for service providers, building owners, commercial property managers and businesses to provide occupants of multiple-unit buildings with reliable Internet connectivity," said Tom Hulsebosch, senior director of sales and marketing, Canopy Wireless Broadband Group, Motorola Networks & Enterprise. "The combination of the Motorola Powerline MU solution's high speed, low cost, and quick deployment to 'broadband enable' an entire building makes the Powerline MU solution very attractive to an Internet service provider, telco, or cable company."
Related Channels: xDSL, Cable MSO

J:COM extends contract with Amdocs through 2009
Amdocs, the leading provider of software and services to enable integrated customer management and the intentional customer experience, announced that Jupiter Telecommunications Co. (J:COM), the largest cable provider in Japan, has signed an agreement to extend its existing contract with Amdocs through 2009. Amdocs will continue to enable J:COM's ongoing evolution into a multi-play provider to a growing customer base, becoming a "one-stop-shop" for innovative bundles of services, including cable TV and broadband Internet, as well as wireline, wireless and IP-based voice.
Since it was founded in 1995, J:COM has been expanding its customer base across Japan via acquisitions, becoming the largest MSO (multiple systems operator) in the country. Amdocs' customer care and billing platform was initially deployed at J:COM in 1995.
"For service providers to move towards multi-play and realize a more profitable future, they need to put the customer at the center of their business," said Michael Matthews, chief marketing officer at Amdocs. "J:COM is striving to do just that, as it continues to work with Amdocs to provide a personalized experience to its customers across all touch-points."
Related Channels: OSS/BSS, Cable MSO

Comcast's ON Demand service surpasses three billion program views since 2004
Television viewers are increasingly choosing to watch the shows they want on their schedules - a trend fueling the incredible growth of Comcast's signature video-on-demand service, which has now surpassed three billion program views since 2004. Comcast, the nation's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services, also set a new monthly record for July, with customers watching 180 million ON DEMAND shows. As ON DEMAND tops three billion views - the equivalent of 10 programs watched by every person in the United States - Comcast customers have made music videos and programs (more than 540 million viewed), children's shows (more than 330 million viewed), free movies (more than 180 million viewed) and sports and fitness programs (more than 73 million viewed) some of the most popular programming categories.
"Customer response to ON DEMAND over the past few years has been extraordinary," said Page Thompson, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Video Services for Comcast. "ON DEMAND is the ultimate viewing experience, and as more customers try the service and we continue expanding our content library with viewers' favorite shows from top networks and VOD-exclusive programs, we expect ON DEMAND use to continue climbing.
Related Channels: Video, Cable MSO

EC approves joint acquisition of Casema and Multikabel by Cinven and Warburg Pincus
Cinven and Warburg Pincus are both private equity companies with interests in a range of economic sectors. Casema and Multikabel are two Dutch cable operators providing radio and television, Internet access and fixed telephony services.
The Commission has found that Casema and Multikabel have only marginal overlapping activities in the markets for broadband Internet access, retail distribution of fixed telephony services, leased lines and in the emerging market for multiple play offers that are not liable to raise any competition concerns.
Casema’s and Multikabel’s main activity is to acquire from broadcasters distribution rights over their radio and TV channels (the wholesale market) and to distribute these channels via their cable networks to viewers (the downstream market). The Commission’s examination of the wholesale market showed that given Multikabel’s comparatively small subscriber base, the proposed transaction would not result in a substantial change of the market structure.
The examination of the relevant retail market did not give rise to competition concerns as Casema’s and Multikabel’s respective distribution areas do not overlap.
Related Channels: Cable MSO, Mergers & Acquisitions

BitBand to demo IPTV at IBC2006
BitBand, a world leader in providing video content delivery solutions over IP broadband networks for Telcos, will demonstrate its new solutions for IPTV deployments at IBC2006, September 8 -12 at RAI Exhibition and Congress Centre in Amsterdam.
Demonstrations at the BitBand Stand (5.232) include:
- BitBand's technologies enabling Video On Demand (VOD), Network Personal Video Recording (NPVR) and TV On Demand, including Start Over and Pause-Live TV as well as integrated, end-to-end solutions with leading IPTV vendors of set-top boxes (STBs) and iTV Applications.
- BitBand Vision appliances combined with BitBand's Maestro content distribution features which allow the service provider to support either a centralized or a distributed recording scheme, according to the network constraints.
- BitBand's Video Delivery Network (VDN) model supporting a variety of business models and business entities on a single delivery platform. This integrated and flexible solution combines the attributes of broadband networks and video streaming into one flexible platform.
- Live On-demand and broadcast IPTV service by Tele2 / Versatel, the first and biggest IPTV provider in the Netherlands.
- BitBand's IPTV wholesale model enabling network operators to increase revenues and maximize investments in their networks with the delivery of IPTV services by multiple service providers on their cache enabled "Smart Pipes."
Related Channels: Video, Cable MSO

ARRIS TeleWire Supply appoints Tom Williams as VP of Marketing and Business Development
ARRIS TeleWire Supply announced the appointment of Tom Williams to the position of Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. In this position, Mr. Williams will oversee marketing and business development strategies to facilitate the long-term growth of products, solutions, and services for ARRIS TeleWire Supply.
“Tom has an outstanding array of industry experience and a tremendous reputation for delivering results,” said ARRIS TeleWire Supply President Bob Puccini. “We are extremely pleased to welcome him to the team and are anxious to realize the growth his management and visionary strategies will bring to TeleWire.”
Williams has more than 10 years of experience in the cable industry, serving in R&D, Engineering Operations, Market Development, and Product Marketing capacities. He previously held key executive and engineering positions for Comcast, Fujitsu, KPMG Consulting and Scientific-Atlanta. Williams also served for eight years in the United States Marine Corps.
Related Channels: Cable MSO, Video, Test, Photonics

Mexico's Cofemer proposes "triple play" plan letting telcos enter the TV market and cable MSOs offer phone services
Mexico's Cofemer, a government agency dedicated to making regulations more efficient, signed off on the Communications and Transport Ministry's proposal to adopt a standard to deliver high-speed Internet, television and phone services over a single broadband connection.
The "triple play" plan that would let telcos enter the TV market and cable MSOs offer phone services.
However, Cofemer also made some suggestions, including that the ministry decide whether to let dominant telephone operator Telmex's license tap markets outside fixed-line and Internet.
Critics say letting giant Telmex, owned by billionaire Carlos Slim, into the TV market too soon could hurt smaller cable companies or even established media giants like Televisa.
On the other hand, while Telmex has said it agrees with the triple play, it also says cable MSOs monopolize sources of TV content.
The next step is for the Communications and Transport Ministry, which is not bound to follow Cofemer's suggestions, to make changes or make the new policy official.
Related Channels: Video, VoIP, xDSL, Cable MSO

India's cable operators contest government's new rate caps
Cable operators throughout India are campaigning against new government regulations that limit their ability to control individual channel costs.
The new conditional access system, scheduled to go into effect in January in Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi, has drawn protests from the country's cable distributors for its imposed financial limitations.
Under the new Telecom Regulatory Authority of India regulations, the cost of the country's 22 free-to-air basic cable channels will be set at $15.40.
Current cable channel costs range from News Corp.'s $13.47 eight-pack of channels to the ESPN-Star Sports channel, which is offered for $1.
Related Channels: Cable MSO

Harmonic announces DWDM transmitters and receivers for extending HFC bandwidth
California-based Harmonic Inc. announced new high performance transmitters and receivers designed to extend hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network bandwidth. The new PWRLink™ 1 GHz broadcast transmitters, METROLink™ 1 GHz DWDM forward path transmitters for narrowcast applications and MAXLink™ 1 GHz receivers support substantially more capacity to the home. This capability is critical as cable operators add more personalized and on-demand video services, greater amounts of high-speed Internet, VoIP and commercial services. The transition to 1 GHz capacity in the cable network is underway, and already more than two million homes are served by Harmonic's range of scalable PWRBlazer™ 1 GHz nodes.
In addition, as part of its suite of higher bandwidth capable products, Harmonic has introduced a DWDM digital return path transmitter that supports 65 MHz—a key requirement for node segmentation solutions—and complements Harmonic's 65 MHz CWDM return path transmitter.
Viewers today are consuming ever increasing amounts of video content, whether delivered via traditional broadcast television, emerging video-on-demand (VOD) services or streamed over IP. This includes high definition television, as well as narrowcast services such as VOD, personal video recorders (PVR), network PVR, time-shifted TV and Internet gaming. This trend results in the need for operators to place greater amounts of digital content on the network, and necessitates more bandwidth to the home.
Related Channels: WDM, Photonics, Video, Cable MSO

Cable VoIP subscriptions to reach 6.5M by the end of 2006
A new study from Kagan Research reports that in the second half of 2006 cable operators are riding a wave of investor optimism related to the accelerating rollout of Internet Protocol (IP) voice services and the accompanying halo effect on basic subscriber retention and overall revenue per subscriber.
- Cable IP voice homes marketed will leap from 31.2M. at the end of 2005 to an estimated 68.7M. by year-end 2006;
- Cable IP voice subs have gone from 600K at year-end 2004 to 2.6M. at year-end 2005, and are forecast to jump to 6.5M by year-end 2006.
- High-speed data penetration of basic video subscribers hit 39% at year-end 2005 (vs. 32% at year-end 2004) and is expected to grow to 45% by year-end 2006.
- Digital cable subs now surpass 30M, based on a projected increase from 28.6M at year-end 2005 to 31.6M at year-end 2006.
- In 2006, total residential revenue is expected to grow 9.6% to $68.2B, at an average ARPU of $87.04 (vs. the $79.42 of 2005).
The industry continues to consolidate, with Comcast and Time Warner having completed their acquisition of Adelphia Communications. The top 10 MSOs, pro forma the deal, will own or control 90% of the nation's cable subs, and many clustering benefits in major metro areas have yet to be realized.
Related Channels: Cable MSO, VoIP

U.S. cable MSOs to challenge telcos in business services market
Major U.S. cable MSOs are preparing to challenge telcos in the business services market. They are planning to attack the estimated $100 billion corporate market by deeply undercutting prices offered by telcos.
For example, Cablevision Systems Corp. said it can give discounts as high as 60% to small businesses, defined as up to 20 phone lines, compared with what they would pay a phone company such as AT&T and Verizon.
"The business market place has historically been priced extremely high by incumbent phone companies," said Tom Rutledge, president and chief operating officer of Cablevision.
Related Channels: Cable MSO

STMicroelectronics and China's Dahua develop cable/IP dual-mode set-top box
STMicroelectronics, the leading supplier of silicon chips for set-top boxes (STBs), and Dahua Technology Ltd, China's largest cable and IPTV dual-mode STB provider, have successfully designed and manufactured a highly integrated digital-cable and IP set-top box, making ST the first silicon supplier to provide single-chip dual-mode digital set-top-box solutions for the China market. The box, which begins deployment in Hangzhou Province in August 2006, will enable consumers to enjoy a new three-in-one digital media experience including digital-cable TV, video-on-demand (VOD), and web browsing for a wider choice of information services and broadcast programs.
At the heart of Dahua's design is a dedicated chip belonging to ST's STi7100 family of Advanced Video Codecs (AVC). This system-on-chip (SoC) solution integrates support for advanced high-definition H.264/MPEG4 AVC and MPEG4 P2 standard definition (SD) in addition to MPEG2 encoded video signals. These innovative single-chip HD/SD devices are the industry's first to enable the next generation of high-quality consumer video systems and broadcast services.
"Leveraging its experience in this sector, ST will continue to offer a wide range of products that provide high flexibility, faster time-to-market, low cost, and high-quality solutions to our partners," said Robert Krysiak, STMicroelectronics' Corporate VP and General Manager for Greater China.
Dahua's Chairman and General Manager Mr. Zhu Giang Ming, said, "ST's cost- optimized single-chip solution, which includes a reference design with software kit coupled to their dedicated engineering support, have given us a unique solution and faster time-to-market."
Dahua is China's major volume Cable and IP dual-mode STB provider for operators that provide VoD service for MPEG4 video and audio content. Operators will provide content through deployment of its dual-mode (Cable and IPTV) STBs enabled by the chip from ST.
So far 360 million households boast TV sets in China, where target audiences exceed 1.1 billion, including 114.7 million cable subscribers. The number of customers is also exploding in both broadband and wireless markets, giving China a huge potential market for IPTV. With further extension of its broadband IP network and continuous improvement in communication technology, China is expected to become the largest IPTV market worldwide over the next few years.
Related Channels: Video, Chipsets, Cable MSO

German cable operator Kabel BW picks Siemens Communications
Kabel BW GmbH & Co. KG, Germany’s third-largest cable network operator, has commissioned Siemens Communications to expand its network. As part of a framework contract, Siemens will supply, integrate and maintain its Voice over Cable solution, which will enable Kabel BW to provide its customers with innovative IP-based and multimedia services, among other things.
One of the reasons Kabel BW chose the Voice over Cable solution based on the IP platform Surpass was the fact that Siemens’ purely softswitch-based architecture offers a future-oriented, scalable solution. With this cutting-edge technology in its network, the operator intends to win new customers and – together with the services it already offers, such as successful triple play with digital TV, cable Internet and cable telephony – introduce innovations to the network. For example, it plans to offer residential and business customers IP-based voice and data services such as unified messaging, fixed mobile convergence, IP Centrex, IP telecommunications systems and IPTV.
Related Channels: Cable MSO, VoIP, Video

J:COM acquires majority stake in Cable Net Shimonoseki
Tokyo-based Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd. (J:COM), the largest multiple system operator (MSO) in Japan based on the number of customers served, announced that it will acquire a majority stake in its cable operator affiliate Cable Net Shimonoseki Co., Ltd. via the transfer of a portion of the shares held by local companies. Under the terms of the agreement, Cable Net Shimonoseki will become a consolidated subsidiary of J:COM.
Cable Net Shimonoseki Co., Ltd. provides multichannel cable television, high-speed Internet access, primary fixed-line telephony and mobile phone services under the J:COM brand in Shimonoseki, a city in the Yamaguchi prefecture in Japan.
Established as a 100% subsidiary of J:COM in 1996, local companies began to acquire equity in Cable Net Shimonoseki after the City of Shimonoseki did so in 1997. Since then, this growing business has been managed by J:COM in cooperation with the local community.
The present agreement was reached in close consultation with approximately 60 local shareholder companies. The stock purchase is expected to be complete by the end of September, 2006, with J:COM ultimately owning over 60% of the outstanding equity in Cable Net Shimonoseki.
Going forward, J:COM will continue to operate Cable Net Shimonoseki as an integral provider to the local community, though the company will hold a larger operational and financial stake in Cable Net Shimonoseki’s business.
Related Channels: Cable MSO, Mergers & Acquisitions

Minacom intros VoIP test service for telcos and cable MSOs
Montreal-based Minacom, the world leader in VoIP test systems for telcos and cable MSOs, introduced the ZoeyTM interactive VoIP test agent, a revolutionary new concept in customer support designed for providers offering self-install VoIP service. Zoey is an automated Interactive Voice Response (IVR) agent customers can call to test their own service quality; subscribers interact with Zoey to check their caller ID, and to evaluate noise, echo, speech quality (MOS), DTMF (touch-tone) and fax transmission quality.
As an IVR service, Zoey is easily integrated into existing 1-800 customer service systems, acting as a knowledgeable first-line of support. Calling Zoey lets customers verify their VoIP service installation, and helps to confirm and quantify service quality issues without involving support staff. During the call, Zoey objectively reports service quality in simple language, helping callers to identify and resolve issues often caused by cordless phones, installation/wiring mistakes, and wireless network interference.
“VoIP self-install customers often use web site FAQs to setup their telephone adapters and get to a dial-tone,” explained Michel Nadeau, President & CEO of Minacom, “but who helps them if their caller ID is blocked, their friends are complaining about echo and noise, or when their voicemail and fax don’t work? Zoey solves these problems while reducing support costs and giving operations staff the information they need to keep subscribers talking. Interactive VoIP testing is the missing element in most self-install VoIP service strategies.”
Related Channels: Test, VoIP, Cable MSO

Verizon applauds California Senate Committee vote in favor of video choice
The California Senate Appropriations Committee, under the leadership of Sen. Kevin Murray, on Thursday voted in favor of Assembly Bill 2987, which would overhaul the state's outdated cable franchising process and pave the way for new competitors such as Verizon to offer consumers a choice in video programming, better technology and lower prices. At the same time, the bill, authored by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Assemblymember Lloyd Levine, guarantees that local communities will continue to receive franchise fees consistent with those paid by incumbent cable companies. The bill has already received unanimous and bipartisan support in the Assembly (77-0) and the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee (10-0). The bill is expected to be considered on the floor of the Senate this month. The following statement should be attributed to Verizon West Region President Tim McCallion:
"Chairman Kevin Murray and his colleagues on the Appropriations Committee have shown great leadership in supporting this bill, which would bring the benefits of true video choice and competition to millions of Californians.
"Cable prices have risen 86 percent over the past 10 years, according to the Federal Communications Commission, yet in markets where there is a choice of cable providers, consumers pay 15 percent less for video service, on average.
"Verizon is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to build its new fiber-optic network in California, creating over 1,000 new jobs. This bill would maximize the potential of that network and offer a new standard of quality and value in television delivery to consumers across all income levels, while maintaining local government oversight in important and appropriate areas.
"The unanimous and bipartisan message is clear: AB2987 will ensure Californians get the best deal possible for video service."
Related Channels: Video, FTTP, Cable MSO

Verizon's entertainment partner DIRECTV ranks tops in Northeast Customer Satisfaction Study
DIRECTV, Verizon's marketing partner in reaching hundreds of thousands of homes nationwide with all-digital entertainment services, is the top performer in customer satisfaction among satellite and cable-TV subscribers in the 13-state Eastern Region J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Residential Cable/Satellite TV Customer Satisfaction Study.
"It's great to be aligned with top-performing services like DIRECTV," said Mary Yarbrough, vice president of alternate channel development for Verizon. "We hear from our customers every day about how good the DIRECTV services are, and last quarter some 60,000 customers joined more than 400,000 others who signed up with Verizon to get DIRECTV. That's proof that J.D. Power got it right."
DIRECTV has received the highest ranking in three previous J.D. Power national customer satisfaction studies, and earlier this year DIRECTV received the highest score for customer satisfaction among satellite and cable-TV companies rated by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).
Verizon customers can add DIRECTV to their service bundle of calling and broadband Internet services and receive bundle discounts of $2 to $6 a month. In New York, for example, a calling, Internet and DIRECTV bundle starts at about $95 a month -- a regular, not a promotional, price.
For this year's study, J.D. Power and Associates recognized the highest- ranked companies in each of four regions in the United States - East, South, North/Central and West. The East region is comprised of 13 states, including the six New England states and New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia and Virginia.
"Our highest ranking by J.D. Power and Associates represents another mark of excellence in customer satisfaction for DIRECTV this year," said John Suranyi, DIRECTV's president of sales and customer service. "And while it's an honor to be recognized by J.D. Power and Associates and ACSI, we are not resting on our laurels. We will continue to look at how we can improve all aspects of our business - from technology to content to customer service - and provide an even better experience for our customers."
Related Channels: Video, Wireless, Cable MSO

DSL port shipments up 16% year on year
According to DITTBERNER's recently released report “Broadband Access Quarterly Shipment Report”, DSL port shipments in the second quarter grew 3% quarter-over-quarter to 22.3 Million. This followed a 4% growth in the first quarter and shipments are up 16% year-over-year.
Alcatel remained the overall leader, with Huawei, Siemens, Lucent and Ericsson rounding out the top 5 vendors in terms of ports shipped. Alcatel increased its market share to 30%, the same as a year ago. Huawei also increased its market share to 20%, its largest ever.
Market growth has been steady since the large quarterly increase registered in 1Q05, but the mix of platforms and access technologies has been changing rapidly. IP DSLAMs now account for 57% of all DSLAM port shipments, up from 49% in the first quarter and 38% a year ago. The growth of IP DSLAMs is affecting the Broadband Aggregation networks which have migrated largely from ATM to Ethernet backhaul, due to this trend.
VDSL has grown to 6.7% of all DSL ports shipped, up from 5.7% in the first quarter and 5% last year. Network Transformations and the need to supply Triple Play services are causing the rapid growth of VDSL2, which was not even a standard a year ago. Deutsche Telekom currently has the largest VDSL2 deployment, having declared its intention to offer IPTV.
EMEA remained the largest region for shipments even though they declined slightly. Shipments to CALA and North America remained flat, but Asia Pacific recovered from a slow first quarter with a 12% jump in ports shipped. The North American market should remain stable as the AT&T acquisition of BellSouth proceeds, and telco emphasis shifts to fiber access. This shift is being driven by the need of wireline Service Providers to compete with a very large TV services offering from the MSOs. DSL growth over the next year is likely to be slow, steady, and concentrated in Asia Pacific and the emerging markets of EMEA.
Related Channels: xDSL, Video, Cable MSO

Juniper wins multiservice router deal in Japan
Juniper Networks, Inc. announced that the Yamanashi Prefecture region of Japan has deployed Juniper Networks M-series multiservice routers to help create the Yamanashi Information Highway, a next generation communications backbone which connects local government offices, cable television providers, banks and other businesses within the region. The Yamanashi Information Highway, deployed in July 2006, consolidates all data communications and broadcasting networks on a single, converged IP/MPLS network, and leverages the JUNOS operating system to create a customizable management interface for connected institutions.
"We have been working to respond to the local government requirements to build a local information network for the last few years. One of the objectives of the Yamanashi Information Highway is to provide a community of 1 million people with a network of local government offices. We chose to deploy MPLS-VPN technology as we think it is the best choice for a high speed network infrastructure because of its reliability, flexibility, and its ability to integrate disparate networks such as educational, banking, and other enterprises within a single infrastructure," said Mr. Hajime Kasai, Planning Manager, Yamanashi Prefecture. 'There are also many cable TV stations which cover the areas hard to reach with analogue broadcasting, and in the future, we expect to use this network not only for data communications but also for video distribution."
Related Channels: Switching & Routing, VPN, Video, Cable MSO

Top Story: Huawei leads in optical networking equipment
Ovum-RHK Tuesday announced its preliminary analysis of second quarter 2006 results for optical networking equipment vendors. In 2Q06 revenues for the segment were up 18 percent versus 1Q06 and up 11 percent versus the year-ago quarter.
2Q06 highlights for the optical networking equipment market and the top 7 vendors:
- 2Q06 revenues were $3.0 billion, up 11 percent versus 2Q05 and 18 percent versus 1Q06
- Huawei's revenues increased 81 percent sequentially and 54 percent versus 2Q05
- Siemens's revenues increased 33 percent sequentially and 46 percent versus 2Q05
- Nortel's revenues increased 30 percent sequentially and 7 percent versus 2Q05
- Alcatel's revenues were up 25 percent sequentially but down 5 percent versus 2Q05
- Fujitsu's, Lucent's, and Tellabs's revenues were down sequentially, but were at worst flat compared with 2Q05
Spending in the North American market once again outpaced the other regional markets, topping $1 billion for the second quarter in a row. The North American spending gain was once again broad-based, with metro and backbone WDM growth leading the way as network operators continued expanding their networks to accommodate growing video and packet data traffic.
"Global spending, particularly for metro and backbone WDM equipment, rose as existing users expanded their footprint and capacity for data and video services and as new builds by non-traditional customers-including mobile operators, MSOs, enterprises, research and education institutions, governments, and utilities-continued to expand," said Dana Cooperson, Vice President, Optical Networking and Practice Leader, Network Infrastructure at Ovum-RHK.
Related Channels: WDM, Video, Cable MSO, China

Liberty Global to acquire Czech's second-largest cable operator Karneval
Denver-based Liberty Global, Inc. ("Liberty Global"), through one of its affiliates, has entered into an arrangement to purchase Karneval s.r.o. and Forecable s.r.o. ("Karneval"), the second largest cable operator in the Czech Republic for an estimated purchase price of EUR 322.5 million, subject to regulatory approval.
Karneval offers cable television and broadband services to residential customers. At June 30, 2006, Karneval had approximately 310,000 revenue generating units ("RGUs") including 253,000 video RGUs and 57,000 broadband Internet RGUs.
Mike Fries, President and CEO of Liberty Global said, "We are pleased to announce this transaction in the Czech Republic, one of our fastest growing markets in Central Europe. Upon closing, the acquisition of Karneval will consolidate UPC's leadership position in the Czech Republic with approximately 800,000 RGUs. The combined UPC Czech/Karneval will be well positioned to participate in the rapid growth of advanced broadband services in the region. Considering that we anticipate closing this transaction towards the end of the year, the purchase price represents a 9.8 multiple on our estimate of Karneval's 2007 operating cash flow, before transaction costs, under IFRS accounting standards including anticipated realized synergies in the first year. Additionally, we anticipate significant additional synergies from combining Karneval with our existing UPC Czech business will be realized over time. In the meantime, we look forward to working with Czech regulators to get the transaction approved as soon as possible."
Related Channels: Video, Cable MSO, Mergers & Acquisitions

Huawei ranks No.3 among the top 100 Chinese non-state-owned enterprises listed by the Chinese version of Forbes
The Chinese version of Forbes, a magazine that tracks the world's wealthy, has officially released a list of top Chinese enterprises, the first survey conducted by it on Chinese non-state-owned enterprises with annual sales revenues of more than CNY 5 million.
Among a total of 100 firms on the list, Legend Holdings Limited and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. rank among the top 3.
Legend Holdings heads the list with total assets of CNY 62.3 billion, sales revenues surging 107% to CNY 108.2 billion, and an above average profit of up to CNY 2.05 billion. The third one is Huawei, which has owned total assets of CNY 49 billion, sales revenues of CNY 40.5 billion with a growth of 39%, and a profit of CNY 4.07 billion coming to the fore.
Related Channels: China, Switching & Routing, WDM, VoIP, VPN, xDSL, Video, FTTP, Ethernet, Wireless, OSS/BSS, Security, Cable MSO, SDH/SONET, Storage

ECI lands DWDM deal with Romania cable MSO
Israel-based ECI Telecom has signed a new multi-million dollar contract with the largest cable operator in Romania, RCS & RDS, for the upgrade and expansion of its optical network. The network upgrade will enable RCS & RDS to provide triple play and other broadband services across Eastern Europe and will enable access to the European Internet exchange located in Frankfurt. RCS & RDS' upgraded network will serve approximately 1.7 million subscribers.
Under the contract, ECI is upgrading the national network between all the major cities in Romania, creating a new regional network in Moldova and connecting Hungary to Romania. The network is based on 10G DWDM technology. Underscoring the efficiency of the deployment, ECI was able to deploy the main ring in less than two weeks. ECI and RCS & RDS have been working together since 2001. ECI had previously enabled the customer to deploy an SDH network using its flagship XDM® optical platform. In the current project, RCS & RDS' backbone is being upgraded to add more capacity and to support 10G DWDM by adding a 10G LAN interface. This will make the network more cost-effective and easier to maintain, resulting in significant savings to its operating expenses. RCS & RDS has deployed ECI platforms worth over $10 million in recent years.
"We place great value on our partnership with RCS & RDS and are delighted that the company has again chosen us for their network expansion," said Ido Gur, ECI Telecom's Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing. "The ability to customize a triple-play network for the largest cable operator in Romania demonstrates the quality of our technology and our continued strength in tailoring cost effective solutions for our customers."
Related Channels: WDM, Cable MSO

CableLabs issues new specifications
Colorado-based CableLabs has issued a series of specifications that enable cable operators to offer significantly higher data rates to their broadband customers. The new specifications describe downstream data rates of 160 Mbps or higher and upstream data rates of 120 Mbps or higher. The specifications, called Data-Over-Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS®) 3.0, are available at www.cablemodem.com/specifications/. To achieve these higher data rates DOCSIS 3.0 describes a methodology for channel bonding in both the upstream and downstream direction. DOCSIS 3.0 also incorporates support for the Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). IPv6 is the next generation of the Internet Protocol and greatly expands the number of Internet addresses that cable operators may use, allowing them to provide consumers with more IP-based services.
"This set of specifications will lead to cable modem products that greatly strengthen cable's package of offerings to consumers, enabling delivery of services that may not even be imagined today," said Tony Werner, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Liberty Global, Inc. "Needless to say, these specifications advance our competitive position in the IP space," added Werner, who is chairman of the DOCSIS Business Team at CableLabs.
Related Channels: Cable MSO

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine signs bill allowing telcos to offer TV services statewide
Verizon Communications is ready to become the first telco in New Jersey to offer TV service statewide thanks to a bill signed Friday by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.
The bill allows telco to seek state regulators' permission to offer TV service statewide, instead of seeking approval from individual towns, as has been required of cable companies the past three decades.
Verizon wants to offer IPTV services through its FTTP network also able to carry high-speed Internet (DSL) and phone signals. The company currently offers phone service in 526 municipalities.
Texas is the only state besides New Jersey to allow telcos to offer TV on a statewide basis. Similar legislation is pending in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to New Jersey and Texas, Verizon also offers video services on a city-by-city basis in six other states.
The New Jersey Cable Telecommunications Association, which represents five cable MSOs with about 2.5 million customers, opposed the legislation.
Additionally, some legislators from South Jersey are worried telcos will ignore their region because they are not required to offer service unless an area meets a high population density standard.
Corzine has been cautious about supporting the bill. While in favor of expanding technology throughout the state, he has said he favors it only if everyone is treated equally.
To ensure that, Corzine also issued an executive order on Friday delegating the state public advocate to closely watch and enforce the new law and asked the state Board of Public Utilities to create strong regulations.
Related Channels: Video, FTTP, xDSL, Cable MSO

Time Warner Cable and Sprint Nextel expand relationship
Sprint Nextel Thursday announced a significant expansion of its relationship with Time Warner Cable, the second-largest cable operator in the United States and a unit of Time Warner Inc.. Sprint Nextel has been selected to help provision Time Warner Cable's Digital Phone service in an additional 14 service areas. Time Warner Cable will soon utilize Sprint Nextel's IP Network to offer VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) based telephone service across most of its footprint of approximately 28 million homes-passed, except for Time Warner Cable's systems in New Hampshire and Maine.
Sprint Nextel now serves cable companies with a total of more than 1.2 million VoIP subscribers across more than 1,100 rate centers. Over a one-year period, Sprint Nextel is expected to provide cable telephony wireline services to cable companies serving over 2.5 million subscribers. The new five year agreement marks Sprint Nextel's continued expansion into the cable market, creating a revenue stream with strong growth potential. Sprint Nextel plans to continue to use its telecom assets and communications expertise to expand its delivery of telephony solutions to the cable industry.
"Sprint Nextel has proven to be an excellent partner and we look forward to expanding our relationship with them," said Glenn Britt, president and chief executive officer of Time Warner Cable. "Time Warner Cable now serves 1.6 million Digital Phone customers, and telephone has become one of the fastest growing segments of our video, high-speed data and voice bundle."
Related Channels: VoIP, Video, Cable MSO

Moving ahead at the speed of light: Verizon's FiOS TV on the horizon in New Jersey
- Verizon to invest $1.5 billion to bring state-of-the-art fiber all the way to customers' homes and businesses
- New statewide video franchise legislation will increase investment, create jobs and quicken availability of FiOS TV for consumers
- Verizon to build major video hub office in Freehold
Verizon announced later Friday it's moving ahead with a $1.5 billion investment over the next three years for the construction and deployment of its state-of-the-art fiber network in New Jersey. The announcement came after Gov. Jon Corzine signed into law legislation that streamlines the process for obtaining video franchises in the state.
"New Jersey's new law allowing us to offer television service in the state provides all the justification we need to go full speed ahead to bring fiber optics directly to customers - something no other company is doing," said Ivan Seidenberg, Verizon's chairman and CEO.
"Gov. Corzine and the state Legislature deserve full credit for throwing open the door to television competition in New Jersey and new TV choices for consumers in the state."
As a result of this enhanced deployment, Verizon expects to have its industry-leading video network available to three and-a-half million residents by the end of 2008. The first locations will be opened for sale by the end of this year.
"Gov. Corzine's decision today means New Jersey consumers and businesses are poised to have the nation's most advanced communications network delivered directly to their front door," said Seidenberg. "We expect it will lead to hundreds of new video-related jobs for New Jersey residents, and result in millions of dollars in savings for consumers."
As part of Verizon's plans, the company made the following announcements:
* Verizon will substantially increase FiOS video availability in New Jersey.
The company plans to invest $1.5 billion in Verizon's fiber network that will bring cable choice and competition quickly to hundreds of municipalities in the state. As Verizon considers deployment of available investment resources throughout its service territory, areas with a clear path to television franchises will be a priority.
* Verizon will add jobs and bring savings and better services to consumers.
Verizon currently has more than 1,000 technicians building the FTTP network around the state. As a result of New Jersey's streamlined franchise rules, the company expects the accelerated deployment will lead to hundreds of additional jobs in New Jersey. In addition, experts have estimated that competition in the cable TV market is expected to result in more than $200 million a year in consumer savings, as well as more choices and improved services.
* Verizon is building a major video hub office in Freehold.
This high-tech video control center will be the primary facility to transmit all video services in most of the state. The multi-million-dollar center will collect the video feed off the company's national fiber-optic video ring and then blend in local channels (network affiliates, PEG channels, etc.) to complete the overall FiOS TV product within the region.
"Today's announcement will make New Jersey one of the most 'fibered' states in the nation, and we fully expect these new franchise rules will open the door to even more competitors," said Dennis Bone, president, Verizon New Jersey. "We will strive to bring this network to as many communities and consumers as quickly as possible." He added:
"New Jersey is on the brink of a communications revolution. By the end of this year, we are planning to start offering consumers the most exciting change to home entertainment this side of color television."
As part of the governor's approval of the legislation, he issued an executive order directing the State Board of Public Utilities to issue rules concerning the deployment to multiple dwelling units, or MDUs.
"Bringing our network to apartments and high-rise buildings is a clear part of our deployment plan," said Bone. "This is a tremendous market for Verizon. We've been serving customers in these types of dwellings for decades.
"We look forward to working in partnership with the state of New Jersey in ensuring that Verizon is not locked out when we begin negotiating with building owners."
Customer reaction to FiOS has been very positive, with broadband subscribers more than doubling in the company's inaugural FiOS market of Keller, Texas, just outside Dallas/Fort Worth.
The company will notify additional customers when FiOS is available locally. Customers who want to determine whether they can order FiOS also can call 888-GET FIOS (888-438-3467) or visit Verizon's FiOS Web site at www.verizon.net/Fios.
"FiOS has been an extraordinary hit with our first customers in other states," said Bone. "We are building the communications network of the future to provide customers unmatched network reliability, incredible speed and exciting new options for voice, data and video connections."
Related Channels: Video, FTTP, xDSL

ESPN360 tries to bring its pay-for-access model from cable TV to the Internet
The sports network's new ESPN360 Web site, which includes live sportscasts, on-demand video, ESPN TV shows and interactive games, is only available to the customers of Internet service providers that buy the right to offer ESPN360.
Unlike other outlets that offer programming content at a charge or even free to prospective viewers, ESPN instead relies on partnerships with Verizon Communications Inc. and other telecommunications providers.
Tanya Van Court, vice president and general manager of ESPN Broadband and Interactive Television, said the benefit for the Internet service providers is that they "get to sell a high-speed data package that's not the same old high-speed data package."
"It makes sense for everyone: fans, partners and ESPN," Van Court said.
But not all ISPs are thrilled. David Grabert, a spokesman for Cox Communications Inc., said the cable company does not plan to work with ESPN360.
"There's a significant cost and expense that would be passed on to our customers," he said.
Cable TV may not be the best model to follow on the Internet, Grabert said. With demands from some critics that cable TV break apart its package of program offerings, paying extra to offer ESPN360 on Cox's broadband service would be heading in the opposite direction, he said.
"We already get some heat on the video side," he said. "Sports is not of interest to everyone."
AT&T also is not offering access to the Web site. Spokesman Wes Warnock declined to comment on whether AT&T would offer it in the future.
Related Channels: Video, xDSL, Cable MSO

US FCC promotes Access Broadband over Power Line (Access BPL)
As part of its ongoing efforts to promote access to broadband services for all Americans and to encourage new facilities based broadband platforms, the Federal Communications Commission Thursday generally affirmed its rules for Access Broadband over Power Line (Access BPL) systems while maintaining safeguards against harmful interference to existing radio services. If harmful interference does occur, the Commission will take appropriate action to remedy the situation. Today's decision was adopted in response to a number of petitions for reconsideration of the BPL rules established in October of 2004.
In the Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O) adopted today, the Commission again acknowledged the significant benefits of Access BPL, reaffirmed its commitment to address interference issues, and reemphasized that the Part 15 rule changes were made to ensure that Access BPL operations do not become a source of interference to licensed radio services.
Specifically, the MO&O by the Commission:
- Affirms its rules regarding emission limits for BPL, including its determination that the reduction of emissions to 20 dB below the normal Part 15 emissions limits will constitute adequate interference protection for mobile operations;
- Denies the request by the amateur radio community to prohibit BPL operations pending further study and to exclude BPL from frequencies used for amateur radio operations;
- Denies the request by the television industry to exclude BPL from frequencies above 50 MHz;
- Affirms the July 7, 2006 deadline for requiring certification for any equipment manufactured, imported or installed on BPL systems, with the proviso that uncertified equipment already in inventory can be used for replacing defective units or to supplement equipment on existing systems for one year within areas already in operation;
- Affirms the requirement that information regarding BPL deployment must be provided in a public database at least 30 days prior to the deployment of that equipment;
- Adopts changes regarding protection of radio astronomy stations by requiring a new exclusion zone and amending consultation requirements for these stations; and
- Adopts changes to provide for continuing protection for aeronautical stations that are relocated.
- Denies the request by the aeronautical industry to exclude BPL operating on low-voltage lines from frequencies reserved for certain aeronautical operations;
- Denies the request by the gas and petroleum industry to be considered as public safety entities; Action by the Commission, August 3, 2006, by Memorandum Opinion and Order. ET Docket No. 04-37.
Related Channels: Wireless, Video, xDSL, Cable MSO

Russia's Golden Telecom acquires controlling interest in Kubtelecom
In a further sign of its commitment to expand in the Russian regions with broadband services, Moscow-based Golden Telecom, Inc. ("Golden Telecom" or the "Company") Thursday announces the acquisition of a controlling interest in Kubtelecom LLC ("Kubtelecom"). Kubtelecom is comprised of three telecom service providers operating in the largest cities in the Krasnodarsky region of Russia. The Krasnodarsky region of Russia is the number one region in terms of Gross Regional Product in the Southern Federal District and is the eleventh largest region in Russia in terms of Domestic Regional Product.
In addition to modern services provided to business customers, operators and residential market, such as broadband Internet access, digital switched voice and data, Kubtelecom also provides fast growing cable TV services and wireless Code Division Multiple Access ("CDMA") access. Kubtelecom is well poised to begin to provide triple play services to Krasnodar mass market consumers. Kubtelecom operates fiber optic and copper networks covering Krasnodar, Anapa, Novorossiysk, Temryuk, Gelendzhik and Timashevsk. There are 1.5 million permanent residents in these cities to whom Golden Telecom will offer services through Kubtelecom and its branches. In addition, Golden Telecom will focus on offering services to an estimated 7-10 million tourists and visitors who visit the region each year.
Kubtelecom provides broadband services based on wireline access to more than 40,000 households in Krasnodar, using ADSL, Cable TV, FTTH (fiber to the home) and other access approaches.
Commenting on the acquisition, Jean-Pierre Vandromme, Golden Telecom's Chief Executive Officer, noted: "The acquisition of Kubtelecom will not only reinforce our current position in the Krasnodar region but will allow us to capitalize on Golden Telecom's resources in an active and efficient way to focus on the implementation of our strategy of broadband access in promising regional economies."
Related Channels: Wireless, Video, FTTP, xDSL, Cable MSO, Mergers & Acquisitions

Cinven and Warburg Pincus to acquire Essent Kabelcom; Kabelcom, Multikabel, and Casema to combine forces
Cinven, the European private equity firm and Warburg Pincus, the global private equity firm, announce that agreement has been reached in principle to acquire Essent Kabelcom from Essent N.V. for €2.6 billion.
This follows the recent agreement for Cinven and Warburg Pincus to acquire Casema and for Warburg Pincus’ stake in Multikabel to be contributed to the new holding company.
It is intended that following completion of both transactions, Kabelcom, Casema and Multikabel will co-operate in providing cable services to the Dutch market.
Kabelcom, headquartered in Groningen, is the second largest cable company in the Netherlands. The company operates in the field of data-communication and telecommunication, radio, TV, Internet and telephone services, for the consumer market as well as business-to-business. As at June 30, 2006, the Company had 1.7 million television subscribers (of which 183,000 subscribed to digital packages), 595,000 broadband internet and 99,000 telephony subscribers.
Together Kabelcom, Casema and Multikabel will serve over 3.3 million customers and have pro forma revenue of approximately €870 million for the financial year ended 31 December 2005.
Subject to works council consultations and regulatory approvals together with customary closing conditions the transaction is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2007.
Related Channels: Cable MSO, Video, Mergers & Acquisitions

Time Warner attracts broadband users using the magic word FREE
FREE is a magic word. Time Warner Inc. announced that AOL's software and e-mail as well as various other products will be made available for free to broadband users in a move to enhance the growth of its online advertising business.
Time Warner President and Chief Operating Officer Jeff Bewkes said: "For the first time in AOL's history, we're offering many of AOL's most compelling products, such as its integrated software and e-mail as well as applications for safety and security including parental controls, to broadband users free of charge. We've listened to our customers, and many of them want to keep using these AOL products when they migrate to broadband - but not pay extra for them. So now we can tell them: 'You've Got Mail - for Free.' This is the next logical step for AOL to capitalize further on the explosive rise in broadband usage and online advertising. With its robust and rapidly expanding advertising operation, we expect to put AOL back on a growth path."
AOL Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Miller said: "We'll now be able to maintain and deepen our relationship with many more members who are likely to migrate to broadband. Providing them with their familiar AOL software and e-mail for free, over any broadband connection, will be critical to our future success. For members who've left us over the past two years, we've kept your e-mail address. When this effort is fully operational in early September, you'll be able to come home again - for free. For those who have never tried the AOL software, e-mail or our other products, we invite you to do so at no charge. The AOL Network has over 100 million unique visitors per month, and we'll work hard to engage Internet users with new products that will be available for free on the Web."
Among the AOL products that will be available for free to anyone with an Internet connection are: AOL's integrated software; communications features, including AOL e-mail, instant messaging, a local phone number with unlimited incoming calls, and social networking applications; and safety and security features, such as parental controls. To encourage former members to return to using the AOL software, e-mail, instant messaging and other AOL products, they will be able to reactivate their screen names, if given up within the last two years.
In the weeks ahead, AOL will announce a number of free new products in such areas as safety and security, storage, personalized e-mail domains, video and search, as well as an update of its AOL software. Combined with AOL's video search, video assets, compelling content, blogging and other existing free applications, these new products will allow AOL to compete across the board for new Internet users, both domestically and abroad.
Related Channels: Cable MSO, xDSL, Video, OSS/BSS, Security

Adelphia completes sale of its assets to Time Warner Cable and Comcast
Adelphia Communications Corporation Tuesday completed the sale of substantially all of its assets to Time Warner Cable and Comcast Corporation for aggregate consideration of approximately $12.5 billion in cash and approximately 16 percent of the equity of Time Warner's cable subsidiary.
As a result of the sale, Adelphia will no longer operate as a U.S. cable company. Its approximately 4.8 million customers will be distributed between Time Warner Cable and Comcast.
Teams from the buyers and Adelphia have worked together for months to ensure an orderly transition for customers, communities and the almost 13,000 Adelphia employees who will transfer to Time Warner Cable and Comcast.
Related Channels: Cable MSO, Video, Mergers & Acquisitions

MTU-Intel contests Russian telecom regulator's decision
MTU-Intel, a Russian cable operator and subsidiary of Russian telco Comstar UTS, has filed a lawsuit with the Moscow Arbitration Court contesting the claim issued by the Federal Service for Oversight in Telecommunications (Rossvyaznadzor).
Rossvyaznadzor issued its complaint regarding MTU-Intel's pay-TV service called Stream, which launched in May 2005. MTU-Intel provided this service based on a license for telematic services, issued 1 August 2002, which states that MTU-Intel has the right to provide its customers with value added services, as long as these services are technologically linked to the telematic services.
MTU-Intel argues that its Stream TV service is only possible using telematic services based on broadband technology provided under its Stream Internet service. The company therefore considers pay -TV to be an additional broadband service.
A hearing with the Moscow Arbitration Court is scheduled for 17 August.
Related Channels: Video, Cable MSO

Harmonic enhances digital video compression with multi-channel, multi-service HD H.264 encoder
Harmonic Inc. Wednesday extended its family of market-leading digital video compression solutions with the new DiviCom(R) Electra(TM) 7000 high definition (HD) MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) encoder. The world's first multi-channel, multi-service HD H.264 encoder, the Electra 7000 supports up to four full resolution HD channels and can simultaneously create low resolution services for picture-in-picture (PiP) or multi-channel mosaic applications. An ideal solution for satellite, telco/IPTV and cable operators, the Electra 7000 sets a radically improved benchmark for HD H.264 compression performance and video quality. Customers have confirmed bit-rates 20 to 30 percent lower than any currently deployed HD H.264 encoder, and the system has already been selected by five satellite and telco operators in North America and Europe to power their forthcoming HD services.
The ground-breaking Electra 7000 addresses the challenge shared by all operators regarding how to minimize bit-rates while providing superior video quality. The Electra 7000 also revolutionizes the video-over-DSL business model by enabling telcos to provide outstanding HD and standard definition (SD) services with support for multiple televisions and PVR functionality in addition to making bandwidth available for competitive high-speed Internet access.
"Service providers no longer have to accept compromises on video quality or resolution for their HD services as they seek a solution that delivers on the promise of H.264," said Patrick Harshman, President and CEO of Harmonic Inc.
Related Channels: Video, xDSL, Cable MSO

Spirent partners with Anue
Spirent Communications has partnered with Anue Systems, a provider of network emulation solutions for Ethernet, SONET/SDH, and Fibre Channel environments. The partnership expands Spirent's capabilities to assist network equipment manufacturers and service providers with Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) issues across converged networks.
Service providers have to ensure QoS and QoE prior to deploying triple play services, especially video services. When used with the Spirent TestCenter or Spirent Abacus test systems, Anue's network emulators address the unique challenges and scenarios of converged network services by simulating network delays, jitters, and other impairments.
"An integrated solution that introduces impairments such as delay, jitter, packet drop, fragmentation, and out of sequence enables equipment manufacturers and service providers to better ensure performance of the converged network and its associated applications in advance of the launch of triple play services," said Chris Bohrson, vice president of marketing, Spirent Communications.
The Spirent solution also enables large-scale emulation of IP Telephony systems; customer premise devices (CPE) such as set-top-boxes, cable/DSL modems, and passive optical network (PON) optical network units (ONUs)/optical network terminals (ONTs); and other devices.
"Data and voice are considered commodities but the ability to deliver video over the same network, be it IPTV, video conferencing, video telephony, or video-on-demand, is critical in terms of growing revenue and the subscriber base," said Kevin Przybocki, vice president, sales and marketing, Anue Systems.
Related Channels: Test, OSS/BSS, Video, VoIP, FTTP, Ethernet, xDSL, Cable MSO

Siemens' softswitch platform helps Cablevision
Siemens Communications Inc. announced that its SURPASS next-generation Internet Protocol (IP)-based softswitch platform has helped its customer, Cablevision Systems Corporation, sign up one million subscribers to the company's VoIP service, called Optimum Voice, in less than three years. Cablevision is the largest cable services provider in the greater New York area, with more than three million cable television customers.
Siemens' SURPASS platform supports multiple network configurations and has the capacity to support up to 150,000 subscribers in a single softswitch. With rapid feature development capabilities, Cablevision has been able to deliver a rich and growing feature set to subscribers of its flat-rate $34.95 Optimum Voice service, including a web portal so customers can manage their accounts and features themselves. This offers users more control over their telephony services with greater convenience and less reliance on traditional customer service contacts and assistance.
Cablevision chose Siemens' SURPASS platform in 2003 to help drive an aggressive deployment of Optimum Voice throughout its service area. The first major cable company to deploy VoIP across its entire service area, Cablevision continues to be an industry leader. With Siemens' highly reliable SURPASS platform enabling Cablevision to deliver E911, one-third of the company's cable television customers and more than half of its high-speed Internet customers have already chosen Optimum Voice.
Related Channels: VoIP, Cable MSO

Liberty Global completes sale of its French cable operation to Altice and Cinven
Denver-based Liberty Global, Inc. ("Liberty Global") has completed the previously announced sale of 100% of its French cable business ("UPC France"). UPC France was sold to Altice and Cinven for euro 1.25 billion (approximately US$1.57 billion) in cash.
Related Channels: Cable MSO

New Century InfoComm in talks with cable TV operator China Network
New Century InfoComm Tech Co, a fixed-line telecom operator owned by Far Eastern Group, is seeking an alliance with a local cable TV operator as part of a plan to tap into the TV business.
"We are interested in entering the cable TV business. We may look for an alliance with cable TV providers," said Douglas Hsu, chairman of New Century InfoComm,.
According to Taiwan's National Communications Commission statistics, Eastern Multimedia had 1.05 million subscribers, or a 23.4 percent market share, as of Dec. 31, followed by China Network with 21.8 percent and Taiwan Broadband with 13.6 percent.
New Century InfoComm is currently leasing bandwidth to China Network, which makes China Network an obvious potential partner for the company.
"We are in talks with China Network about further cooperation," said Kevin Lin, a vice president of New Century InfoComm.
"There's a growing trend for the convergence of Internet, phones and TVs, or the so-called triple play service," Lin said.
Lin said New Century InfoComm planned to deliver TV programs over its broadband networks sometime next year to compete with bigger rival state-run Chunghwa Telecom Co.
Related Channels: Video, Cable MSO

Verizon boosts top DSL speed to 50 mbps in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut competing with Cablevision's 30 mbps
Verizon Communications on Tuesday raised the top download speed for its DSL service in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, the areas where it competes with Cablevision Systems Corp. for broadband customers.
New York customers of Verizon's FiOS paying $89.95 a month can now get download speeds of 50 mbps, up from 30 mbps.
The new 50 mbps speed is the fastest offering from a major U.S. Internet service provider.
Cablevision has a competing cable broadband service at 30 mbps, far faster than most cable companies.
In New York, FiOS is mainly available in the Long Island suburbs, which are also Cablevision strongholds.
Related Channels: xDSL, Cable MSO

Cablevision hits one million mark for VoIP subscriber growth
New York-based cable MSO Cablevision Systems Corp. has passed the one million mark for phone subscribers.
Cablevision said a third of its three million cable television subscribers and more than half of its high-speed Internet customers now take its digital phone service called Optimum Voice, launched in the third quarter of 2003.
Cablevision had reported 865,000 phone subscribers in 1Q06.
The addition of VoIP services to cable MSOs' product offering has been key to subscriber growth, enabling a so-called 'triple play' bundling of TV, high-speed Internet and voice services.
Comcast Corp., the biggest U.S. cable operator, introduced its digital phone service at the end of 2004. The company, which has about 22 million subscribers, has forecast it will have more than one million digital phone subscribers by the end of the year.
Related Channels: VoIP, Cable MSO

Huawei has broad product portfolio to meet needs for convergence
Recently, global telecom companies have been increasingly merging their businesses to meet the needs for convergence, such as the recent Nokia-Siemens deal, the Alcatel-Lucent deal, the Cisco-Scientific Atlantic deal and the earlier Ericsson-Marconi deal.
However, Huawei is not worried because it had anticipated the convergence trend early and already prepared with a very broad product portfolio. Huawei, established 18 years ago, is offering a broad product portfolio including wireless, fixed-line, IP, optical and data networks, applications and software for value-added services and handsets and wireless terminals.
Huawei's telecoms equipment have already been sold in more than a 100 countries and serve 28 of the world's top 50 operators.
Related Channels: China, Wireless, VoIP, Video, FTTP, Ethernet, OSS/BSS, Security, VPN,  Switching & Routing, WDM, xDSL, Cable MSO, SDH/SONET

Cinven and Warburg Pincus to acquire Casema and absorb Multikabel
Cinven, the European private equity firm and Warburg Pincus, the global private equity firm, announce that agreement has been reached to acquire Casema from The Carlyle Group, Providence Equity Partners and GMT Communications Partners. As part of the transaction, Warburg Pincus' stake in the Dutch cable operator Multikabel is to be contributed to the new holding company. Following completion, Casema will co-operate with Multikabel in providing cable services to the Dutch market. The total enterprise value of the transaction is €2.85 billion.
Casema is the third largest cable operator in the Netherlands serving the central and western parts of the country, covering such cities as The Hague, Utrecht, Breda and areas surrounding Amsterdam. Based on its substantially upgraded network, Casema offers triple-play services, including analogue and digital television, broadband Internet and VoIP telephony services. As at June 30, 2006, the Company had 1.3 million television subscribers (of which 112,000 subscribed to digital packages), 400,000 broadband internet and 136,000 telephony subscribers.
Multikabel, the fourth largest cable operator in the Netherlands, is based in North Holland and provides media and communications services to consumers, companies and institutions. Multikabel offers basic analogue and digital television, premium television, broadband Internet and telephony services over its proprietary network, primarily to residential subscribers. As at 30 June 2006, Multikabel had approximately 318,000 basic cable television subscribers, as well as 45,000 digital television, 141,000 broadband Internet and 64,000 telephony subscribers. In December 2005 Warburg Pincus acquired Multikabel from Primacom AG, a cable operator based in Germany.
Together Casema and Multikabel will serve over 1.6 million customers and have pro forma revenue of €416 million for the financial year ended 31 December 2005.
The transaction, which is expected to close in the second half of 2006, is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
Related Channels: Cable MSO, Video, VoIP, Mergers & Acquisitions

TV Cabo boosts broadband services with Cisco IP NGN infrastructure
Cisco Systems announced that TV Cabo, Portugal's largest pay-TV operator, has chosen the Cisco® uBR10012 Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTS) as part of its Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) platform. TV Cabo is deploying the Cisco CMTS to upgrade its national network to offer ultra-high-speed broadband, voice over IP (VoIP) and high-definition video. With this network upgrade, TV Cabo is commencing trials of the Cisco Wideband solution, based on the Cisco family of CMTS and other components offered by Scientific Atlanta®, a Cisco company, and Linksys®, a division of Cisco.
The Cisco Wideband solution, based on a pre-standard version of the EuroCableLabs' Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) 3.0 standard, allows TV Cabo to optimize its network and offer increased throughput for customers, with data rates in the hundreds of megabits and potentially gigabits per second. This is achieved through channel bonding performed on the industry-leading Cisco uBR10012 CMTS and cable modems from Scientific Atlanta and Linksys.
At a press conference today, TV Cabo demonstrated future services up to 100 Mbps for streaming high-definition video to PCs and high-speed media downloading. Zeinal Bava, chief executive officer of TV Cabo, said: "We believe the future of cable is a bright and exciting one. With the new wideband technology, we have the opportunity to show our customers new possibilities of almost limitless bandwidth accessible from their homes."
Related Channels: VoIP, Video, Cable MSO

HOT Telecom picks Nortel IMS-ready solution
Israel-based HOT Telecom, a consortium of cable service providers Golden Channels, Matav and Tevel, has selected a next-generation carrier solution from Nortel for the next stage of its cable telephony network upgrade.
Nortel will be the lead systems integrator for this upgrade, which will position HOT Telecom to deliver new revenue-generating services like managed VoIP, instant messaging, and presence awareness to business and residential customers across Israel.
HOT Telecom plans to deploy a Nortel IMS-ready, carrier-grade IP-based solution using network engineering, integration, operation and maintenance services from Nortel's Global Services portfolio. The network upgrade is expected to be fully deployed by the end of 2006.
Related Channels: VoIP, Cable MSO

Narad receives two US patents covering switched Ethernet over HFC
Narad Networks, Inc. announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted the company two key patents covering switched Ethernet over HFC. These patents pertain to Narad's FTTx products that leverage fiber and coaxial cable to combine standard Ethernet traffic with existing CATV services on the same wires.
"The premise of Narad's patents for Ethernet over HFC is that cable operators will need to leverage their existing infrastructure to add new services and new customers," said Michael Collette, CEO of Narad Networks. "During the past year HDTV and IPTV have emerged as central drivers in the battle to maintain dominance as video service providers, while the commercial services market is now recognized to be the largest growth engine for cable. What both of these have in common is heavy use of dedicated, constant-bit-rate, services. Narad's fiber-to-the-curb architecture provides the lowest cost, least disruptive, highest bandwidth solution for HFC."
Narad's recently announced FTTC products transport standard gigabit Ethernet over HFC while managing traffic flows using its service provisioning software system.
Related Channels: FTTP, Ethernet, Video, Cable MSO

UK's largest cable operator ntl:Telewest picks Ericsson Softswitch for VoIP
ntl:Telewest has selected Ericsson as a technology and services partner to help with developments to its telephone network using VoIP technology. ntl:Telewest is the UK's largest cable operator and a leading UK provider of broadband and communications services.
A 5-year agreement has been signed by the two companies. The initial phase of the agreement is to help build a Residential Voice-over-Broadband service utilising the Ericsson IMS platform which has been installed and is undergoing testing ahead of launch.
Under the agreement, Ericsson will also be involved with upgrading ntl:Telewest voice network from circuit-switched technology to IP using Ericsson's IP-based Telephony Softswitch solution. Planning for the network transformation is currently underway and will involve the migration of circuits across the network from TDM to IP thus utilizing the current IP network more effectively and producing cost savings through out the network.
Related Channels: VoIP, Cable MSO

FTTH Council Europe hails Dutch court decision
The FTTH (Fibre-to-the-Home) Council Europe hailed the decision by a Dutch court to approve the City of Amsterdam’s investment in a next generation broadband infrastructure as a landmark for municipal FTTH networks in the Netherlands and Europe.
The Council had earlier voiced its concerns that the court case, brought by cable operator UPC on anti-trust grounds, could derail the development of next generation broadband services to Dutch citizens at a time when the world’s leading broadband economies are benefiting from an explosion in the number of ultra high-speed Internet connections.
As well as clearing the way for the build-out of fibre connections to an initial 40 000 homes in Amsterdam – Phase 1 of the CityNet project – the decision also provides a clear precedent in European case law. This may benefit other municipalities considering similar investments.
“This is a very positive development for the Netherlands, and a helpful ruling in general for FTTH across Europe,” commented Hartwig Tauber, President of the FTTH Council Europe.
Related Channels: FTTP, xDSL, Video, Cable MSO

Mexican cable TV operator Multimedios Redes selects Siemens triple-play technology
Multimedios Redes, a leading cable TV operator in Mexico, has commissioned Siemens Communications to supply technology for triple-play services. This will allow the Mexican operator to additionally offer voice, video and data services via the Internet Protocol (IP) across the existing cable network traditionally used for television. The technology making this possible is the “Voice over Cable” solution from Siemens.
Multimedios Redes intends to deploy the solution in the Monterrey metropolitan area, where it will provide its customers with the new applications – video calling, online gaming and video monitoring. By expanding its service offering, Multimedios Redes can strengthen its leading position in telecommunications.
“In making our selection, we found that Siemens’ proposal best suits our requirements. A key argument was that we can introduce and make the new services available very quickly”, said Jorge Azzario, General Manager of Multimedios Redes.
“With Multimedios Redes, another important TV cable operator has chosen our technology. This confirms our leadership role in this market”, said Christian Unterberger, Head of Fixed Networks at Siemens Communications.
The Siemens "Voice-over-Cable" solution runs on the Surpass HiQ 8000 and Surpass HiQ 4200 platforms. These offer system availability of over 99.999 percent (Carrier-Grade Level). Surpass HiQ 4200 is also ready for use with IMS systems (IP Multimedia Subsystem). The compatibility of the Surpass solution with the PacketCable and EuroCable interoperability standards was certified in 2005 by the industry-specific standardization bodies CableLabs and EuroLabs.
Related Channels: VoIP, Video, Cable MSO

Thailand's True and ADC see viable demand for IPTV services
IPTV services in Thailand has now become commercially viable, according to the two leading players, True and ADC, who are rushing to tap the IPTV demand.
True and ADC, a joint venture between AIS and TOT, forecast that Thailand's IPTV market will be worth at least two billion baht by 2008. They claim that IPTV represents a major new chapter in Thailand's media and entertainment story.
True and ADC are servicing customers in Bangkok to test the demand for IPTV, while the provincial fixed-line telephone provider TT&T plans a full nationwide launch early next year.
Paisit Vatjanapagorn, director and general manager for broadband broadcast and multimedia of True, said True would need only three months to bring its IPTV services up to a mass-market commercial scale.
"We expect to have at least 300,000 IPTV subscribers by the end of 2007, targeting university students and working people in the upper market," he said.
Paisit said IPTV was likely to grow along with demand for broadband services, noting that True currently had a 90% share in the local high-speed broadband Internet market.
True is bombarding its 400,000 high-speed broadband customers with messages to entice them to test IPTV.
Some industry observers believe the services would also challenge the current offerings of the pay-TV providers, notably the market leader UBC, another True affiliate.
Related Channels: Video, Cable MSO

Verso, IBM to offer VoIP Overlay on eServer BladeCenter
Verso Technologies, a global provider of next generation network solutions, announced that Verso and IBM have executed a strategic teaming agreement to offer the Verso MetroNet VoIP Overlay solution on the IBM® eServer(TM) BladeCenter platform. The joint offering creates a Linux-based VoIP solution running on the IBM eServer BladeCenter and will be globally positioned and marketed by both companies.
The Verso and IBM solution will target providers in the Tier-2 through Tier-4 markets that require deployment of an open standards, cost-effective next generation network (NGN) softswitch platform. The solution integrates and packages a standard set of features and capabilities which includes the Verso Clarent® endpoint (Class-5) and tandem (Class-4) switching technologies as well as other core capabilities and services. The vertically integrated softswitch offering is designed to maximize a provider's ability to quickly and easily deploy Voice over Broadband (VoBB) services to enterprise as well as residential subscribers and enables new services such as prepaid, voicemail and hosted PBX. The solution can be deployed over any broadband medium including cable, xDSL, wireless, fiber, satellite, and microwave.
"We are proud that IBM, the world's leading systems integrator and the leader in delivering complex solutions for carriers, has incorporated the Verso MetroNet VoIP Overlay solution as a key component in its telecom portfolio," said Monty Bannerman, Verso CEO. "We can reach new markets with a Linux-based VoIP platform running on the IBM BladeCenter platform. Access to IBM global markets expands Verso's distribution channel and provides access to a substantial piece of the global VoIP market."
Related Channels: VoIP, Wireless, xDSL, Cable MSO

Carlyle Group's bid for Taiwan's Eastern Multimedia fails to win approval
Carlyle Group's NT$47.6 billion (US$1.5 billion) bid to control Taiwan's Eastern Multimedia Co and cable television affiliates failed to win approval in its first attempt as regulators sought more proof competition will be safeguarded.
The bidding group needs to provide more documents on market share and operation plans, said Huang Ching-yi, responsible for scrutiny of the bid at the National Communications Commission.
Eastern Multimedia would be the second cable operator to be sold in Taiwan in the past six months, as overseas firms bet they can boost profits by introducing new technology and services. Eastern Multimedia had almost a quarter of the island's 4.5 million subscribers at the end of 2005. Adding the cable channels, the group's market share is even higher, Huang said.
The commission wants to ensure Eastern Multimedia's 12 cable-television channels and 13 distributors don't control more than one-third of the market, as limited by law..
Related Channels: Mergers & Acquisitions, Video, Cable MSO

Tollgrade features live demo of VoIP service assurance at Cable-Tec EXPO 2006
Tollgrade Communications, Inc., a leading supplier of network service assurance products for the cable and telecom industries, announced that the company will perform live VoIP service assurance demos at Booth #593 at SCTE Cable-Tec EXPO 2006, being held this week at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.
The demonstration includes Cheetah(TM) CMD-P Power Supply Transponders with embedded, PacketCable(TM)-Interoperable VoIP clients, managed under the CheetahXD(TM) Broadband Service Assurance Platform. This solution provides full bi-directional VoIP service quality assessments by originating test calls within a PacketCable network and analyzing a robust suite of performance indicators -- such as delay, loss, jitter, and mean opinion score (MOS). For each test call, near-end results are analyzed locally on the Cheetah DOCSIS®-based transponder while far-end results are obtained via an RTCP-XR report.
These VoIP service quality assessments best resemble the true performance of a VoIP call within a PacketCable network by verifying call signaling (including DQoS) and measuring bi-directional voice quality within an asymmetrical DOCSIS channel. Competitive offerings provide only a simple unidirectional RTP loopback test, returning results that are more representative of the customer's high-speed Internet access experience than their VoIP service experience.
Tollgrade's Cheetah DOCSIS-based CMD-E IP Test Point and CMD-P Power Supply Transponders enable cable operators to proactively test the network's ability to transport premium data and VoIP services from the headend to the HFC end-of-line. The CMD family of HFC-based test points allows cable operators to fully measure their customer's VoIP service experience without requiring expensive or complicated tools to be deployed within the customer premise.
Related Channels: Test, VoIP, Cable MSO

OpVista secures $28M
OpVista, Inc., the company delivering Next Generation intelligent optical networks featuring cost-effective reconfigurability, capacity and instant 10G upgrades, has secured $28 million in funding led by DCM (Doll Capital Management). Existing investors Sevin Rosen Funds, Incubic and US Trust’s Excelsior Venture Partners also participated in the round.
The company said the new funding, anticipated to be the company’s final round, will be used to expand its product development activities, accelerate international expansion, and broaden marketing and sales support for OpVista2000, which is deployed with Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and other networks throughout North America.
“This is a critical milestone for OpVista, and we are very pleased to have DCM on board. Their participation in this financing, as well as our success in the marketplace validates the strength of our product and solution. This funding enables us to take advantage of our success and continue our growth, both domestically and internationally in the cable, enterprise, utility and carrier markets,” said Karl May, CEO of OpVista.
Related Channels: Switching & Routing, WDM, Cable MSO

BigBand Networks, Netgear integrate products for channel bonding
BigBand Networks and NETGEAR announced successful integration of their products for channel bonding. This practice is designed to combine multiple downstream cable modem channels for higher broadband access speeds. The companies announced their collaboration last month, and are now exhibiting their integrated solutions at SCTE (Society of Cable and Telecommunications Engineers) Cable-Tec Expo.
Based on emerging DOCSIS standards from CableLabs, channel bonding practices have potential to increase broadband subscribers’ downstream access speeds by factors ranging from 2 to 20 or more. NETGEAR and BigBand Networks are leveraging their respective strengths in open customer premises equipment and carrier network infrastructure to achieve an end-to-end channel bonding solution based on these standards. The companies have integrated the NETGEAR CM232 Channel Bonding Cable Modem with a modular CMTS (cable modem termination system) solution that combines the BigBand Cuda® CMTS and BigBand BME™ (Broadband Multimedia-Service Edge). The M-CMTS approach is designed to enhance cost effectiveness, density and performance in the headend by dissociating DOCSIS MAC (media access control) functionality on a CMTS platform from physical QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) functionality on an edge platform.
Related Channels: Cable MSO

Huawei to showcase and launch next generation telecom products and solutions at CommunicAsia2006
China's Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei), a global leading next generation telecom network solutions provider, will unveil its latest next generation products and solutions at the CommunicAsia Expo 2006 held in Singapore between June 21 to 24, 2006. During the Expo, Huawei will display a number of cutting-edge solutions including IP-DSLAM and optical products, the first industry carrier-class Metro Ethernet edge switches, two UMTS and five CDMA handsets, a new HSDPA data card and a new videoconferencing solution for SMBs.
On the IP-DSLAM front, Huawei will present its flagship SmartAX MA5600 broadband access platform – the world's first broadband access solution based on a whole GE switching architecture., SmartAX MA5600 adopts the whole GE switching platform for its hardware architecture with its back panel reaching 210G in capacity. This ultimately ensures unlimited capacity for network expansion and future requirements of FTTH, WiMAX and other high-performance value-added services. On the software side, SmartAX MA5600 integrates rich level-three IP features and supports IPv6 to meet demands for customized services in refined broadband network.
SmartAX MA5600 can also support controllable multicast and video autorelease for multicast services, providing a maximum of 1000 multicast channels. The system provides high-performance multicast agreement modules which guarantee speedy real-time channel switches when all users on the system are operating simultaneously. This allows carriers to have adequate resources to launch value-added services by cooperating with video ICPs
Huawei will also display its UA5000 integrated access evolution plan which allows carriers to achieve network transformation faster and cheaper. The plan demonstrates a smooth evolution process from integrated access to integrated AG, ensuring easy switchover from PSTN network users to NGN network users.without any need to change service boards or components.
For optical networks Huawei will display the most advanced technology and solutions including E2E intelligent optical network solutions, Metropolitan Area Wavelength GE ADM solutions and Super DWDW technology as well as its high-end intelligent optical network products such as OSN9500 and OSN7500. In response to the rapid growth of mobile communications, Huawei will also demonstrate its proven mobile transport solutions and IMA technology illustrating that Huawei is a reliable partner for mobile carriers in building transport networks.
In the data communications area, Huawei will demonstrate its rich experience in building NGN/3G IP bearer networks and will showcase its wide range of E2E solutions for IP core bearer network and metro Ethernet network, along with solutions for enterprise network too. To that end, Huawei will display new high-end switching products S6502m, new products for enterprise network and carrier-class switches Quidway CX series with microsecond-level protection in switchover,
The Quidway CX series switches are the first carrier-class edge switches in the industry, providing carrier-class E2E solutions that cover the core layer, the convergence layer, and the access layer of the Metro Ethernet. The switches reside at the access layer of Metro Ethernet and give carriers increased protection, reliability, security and flexibility when addressing the services requirements for NGN, 3G, broadband access, triple play and key account private line access over IP networks.
On the fixed network side Huawei will unveil its wide range of fixed network terminal products including the C/S/T series DVB STB, EC series IP STB, HG series home gateway, MT series xDSL modem, and its digital home solutions.
Huawei will launch introduce a variety of UMTS and CDMA handsets at the event - UMTS 3G dual mode handsets U528, U526 and CDMA handsets C5300, C3300, C2281, C2285, C2205. The U528 boasts powerful multimedia functions, and an external 1.3 mega pixel camera. The camera fully supports 3G services, such as video phone and streaming and in addition, it plays MP3/MP4 files, Java games, and is Bluetooth enabled.