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Com21 Launches DVB Cable Modem System to Meet Growing European Market Demands
MILPITAS, Calif., (September 30, 1999) -- Europe's leading cable modem supplier, Com21, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMTO) today launched its new Com21 DVB Cable Modem System ? a complete Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) standards-based solution -- to meet the growing market demands for standards-based products in Europe. Marketed to cable operators, the Com21 DVB Cable Modem System comes complete with a routing or bridging data modem and an Interactive Network Adapter (INA) or headend unit. It will be demonstrated for the first time in stand 68 at the ECC?99 Conference and Exhibition in London, October 18-20.
Now European cable operators can choose to deliver high-speed Internet access services to residences and businesses, using product based on the DVB interoperability specification released earlier this year by the EuroModem Consortium. Com21?s decision to enter the DVB market is in direct response to customer requests for a DVB-based European solution.
According to Buck Gee, vice president of Marketing at Com21, "As an early entrant in the DVB market, Com21 can take advantage of the growing market opportunities in Europe -- whether it be DVB, EuroDOCSIS or ATM technologies. Our goal was to be an early leader in the DVB race, and we accomplished that goal successfully making the short list of preferred DVB suppliers to the EuroModem Consortium," concluded Gee.
In May of this year, the EuroModem Consortium submitted a Request For Proposal soliciting bids for the delivery of DVB products. The initial aggregate order for all vendors by the EMC is up to 20,000 EuroModems with delivery expected in late 1999. The subsequent order of up to 300,000 EuroModems is targeted for delivery in 2001. Com21 placed second out of 24 vendors responding to the RFP. Of the 13 Consortium members, six are existing Com21 customers.
"Standardization of cable modems like the DVB specification, competition and pent-up consumer demand for high-speed Internet access and broadband-enabled services will drive European sales of cable modems over the next few years," noted James Penhune, an analyst with the Yankee Groups Media & Entertainment Strategies.
Com21 is the number one supplier of cable modems in Europe, and has large deployments throughout Switzerland, France, Denmark and the Netherlands. Com21's lead is due primarily to its existing installed base passing more than 4.8 million European homes.
Product Specifications and Features
Com21 DVB Interactive Network Adapter INA, CC3200 Series
The Com21 DVB Interactive Network Adapter (INA) is the headend unit controlling the bi-directional broadband data communications over the HFC network. The INA is fully compatible with DVB standards. It supports both EuroModem and Eurobox specifications, and handles both In-Band and Out-of-Band devices, making it an ideal solution for managing both cable modems and set-top boxes on the same network. The INA supports static IP routing and multiple subnets, a DHCP relay agent, a Multicast IGMP, Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) authentication and accounting, supporting up 8 MHz channels.
Com21 DVB Cable Modem Family
The Com21 DVB Cable Data Modem Family consists of two modems: a Routing Cable Modem and a Bridging Cable Modem.
The Com21 DVB Routing Cable Modem, Model CP1021
The Com21 DVB Routing Cable Modem is a high-speed routing cable modem for the small office/home office (SOHO) business market. Acting as a router between a Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) network and an office Ethernet network, the Routing Cable Modem manages local IP addresses and isolates the small office network from the cable system, allowing for fast, two-way data transfers in applications such as Web browsing, Virtual Private Networking (VPN), and telecommuting.
Using the INA, cable operators can easily configure the Routing Cable Modem for authentication and accounting functions. The Routing Cable Modem is DVB and EuroModem compliant; supports up to 8MHz of channel allocation; offers port-level Network Address Translation (NAT),, Multicasting and uses the Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP).
The Com21 DVB Bridging Cable Modem, Model CP1027
The Bridging Cable Modem brings high-speed Internet access to the small office/home office (SOHO) business market. Acting as a bridge between a Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) network and an office Ethernet network, the Bridging Cable Modem allows for fast, two-way data transfers in applications such as Web browsing, Virtual Private Networking (VPN) and telecommuting. Using the INA, cable operators can easily configure the Bridging Cable Modem for one of three different Quality of Service (QoS) levels, as well as handle authentication and accounting functions.
The Bridging Cable Modem is DVB and Class-A EuroModem Compliant, is easy to set up, offers connections of up to 10 Mbps Ethernet, supports 8 MHz of channel allocation and can receive downstream data at up to 42 Mbps. High-speed data transfers allow multimedia enthusiasts to do interactive gaming, streaming audio and streaming video.
Availability
The products are now available in early field trials with volume shipments available in Q1?00 |
