more association w "big boys"...Company news.... SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 14, 1998--Harmonic
Lightwaves Inc. (NASDAQ:HLIT) today announced that Panasonic Video
Communications Company has joined Harmonic's Cable Modem Partnership
Program.
Combining Harmonic's cable television headend equipment with
consumer electronics vendors' cable modems, the program offers
operators complete, standards-based, end-to-end systems for providing
high-speed Internet services to subscribers. As part of this
partnership, Harmonic and Panasonic will also work together to develop
and jointly market their complimentary digital video solutions.
Harmonic and Panasonic have already publicly demonstrated
interoperability between their cable modem products. At the California
Cable Television Association's Western Show in December 1997,
Harmonic's prototype Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) and
Panasonic's cable modem achieved successful two-way communication,
allowing show attendees to "surf the web" at speeds several times
faster than telephony-based modems.
Both products were independently developed to meet the emerging
Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) for cable
modem products and are based on entirely different chipsets.
A complete DOCSIS-compliant, two-way cable modem system consists
of a CMTS residing in a cable operator's network headend and low-cost
cable modems located in subscribers' homes. Such DOCSIS-based systems
will allow subscribers to download data from the Internet at speeds of
up to 27 Mbps.
"Together with Panasonic, we have shown that we can build the
truly interoperable, DOCSIS-compliant cable modem products the cable
industry is demanding," said Ed Thompson, vice president of new
business development for Harmonic Lightwaves. "Partnering with such
leading vendors as Panasonic enables us to offer operators complete
solutions for delivering high-speed Internet access and other digital
services."
"We are delighted to be working with Harmonic and its advanced
technology. Our goal is to offer cable operators and consumers in the
U.S. a turnkey system for the delivery of super-fast Internet
services," said Richard Strabel, vice president, Panasonic Video
Communications Company.
As part of Harmonic's Cable Modem Partnership Program, partners
will work closely with Harmonic to ensure the interoperability of each
others' products, to support DOCSIS and other emerging industry
standards, to identify and pursue joint sales opportunities and to
participate in joint marketing activities.
In addition to these benefits, participating cable modem vendors
can certify that their modems work with Harmonic's headend equipment,
which should make it easier for them to sell directly to operators and
subscribers. The program is designed to benefit all partners, but does
not bind them to exclusive contracts.
Daewoo Electronics is also a member of Harmonic's Cable Modem
Partnership Program, which was announced on Dec. 8, 1997.
About Panasonic Video Communications Company
Panasonic Video Communications Company sells digital set-top
terminals, high-speed cable modems and digital satellite receivers to
telephone companies, cable operators and satellite network operators.
This enterprise is supplying America's leading cable operators with
new and sophisticated digital video and high-speed data delivery
technology to transmit and receive better quality images into the
nation's homes.
Panasonic Video Communications Company is a unit of Matsushita
Electric Corp. of America, the principal North American subsidiary of
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (NYSE:MC), one of the world's
leading electronics manufacturers.
About Harmonic Lightwaves
Harmonic Lightwaves Inc. designs, manufactures and markets
communication systems for delivering lightwave- and digitally-based
video, audio and data via hybrid fiber/coax (HFC), satellite and
wireless networks. These products enable cable television and other
network operators to provide broadcast and interactive, broadband
services, such as Internet access and video-on-demand.
Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Harmonic sells its products worldwide
and maintains a sales and support center in the United Kingdom. The
company's New Media Communication subsidiary and one of Harmonic's R&D
facilities are based in Israel.
Harmonic is ISO 9001- certified and employs over 250 people. For
more information, visit the company's web site at
www.harmonic-lightwaves.com .
This press release contains forward-looking statements,
including, but not limited to the emergence of industry standards,
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results
could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking
statements as a result of the risk factors set forth in documents that
Harmonic Lightwaves files with the SEC, specifically reports on Form 10-K
and 10-Q.
Note to Editors: Product and company names used here are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
CONTACT: Harmonic Lightwaves
John Giddings, 408/542-2692
john.giddings@harmonic-lightwaves.com
or
Walt & Company Communications
Jill Zabkar, 408/496-0900
jzabkar@walt.com |
