World's Largest Standards-Based VOD Deployment Draws Heavily on Harmonic's Expertise and Open-System Solutions
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Wednesday January 19, 9:25 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Telewest Selects Harmonic to Deliver Broadband Access Solutions for VOD Services
World's Largest Standards-Based VOD Deployment Draws Heavily on Harmonic's Expertise and Open-System Solutions
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 2000-- Harmonic Inc. (Nasdaq: HLIT - news) today announced that its open-standards broadband delivery solutions have been chosen by Telewest for its forthcoming trial of video-on-demand (VOD) in the U.K. The service, scheduled to be launched in early 2000, will be offered initially to approximately 300,000 homes, with plans to extend availability later in the year. This initial deployment will be the world's largest-ever rollout of standards-based VOD service.
``We determined that an open and technologically innovative platform was needed to build the broadband network that would enable us to enhance and expand our service offerings,' said Paul Williamson, Telewest's director, visual products. ``Harmonic's broadband solutions fulfill these requirements in two important ways. First, their standards-based platform works seamlessly with DVB-compliant products from multiple best-of-class vendors, including nCUBE and SeaChange video servers, NagraVision conditional access systems, and Pace Micro Technology set-top boxes. Second, the success of this trial requires the best the industry can offer in terms of technology. Harmonic's recognized technical expertise in delivering bandwidth over broadband networks makes them the logical choice for this trial.'
``Telewest's upcoming deployment of VOD and other interactive services is an exciting and important step for the cable industry,' said Patrick Harshman, Harmonic's vice president of marketing. ``Telewest is offering their customers a range of interactive services that will greatly enhance each subscriber's traditional viewing experience. Harmonic is helping Telewest to make this possible by providing a suite of technologically sophisticated tools required for cost-effective, scalable bandwidth management.'
The broadband access portion of Telewest's VOD trial relies on Harmonic's Video Server Gateway (VSG), part of the TRANsend digital product line, and dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) transmission systems, part of the METROLink product line. Both platforms are compliant with digital video and open conditional access standards. The fully integrated VSG combines program filtering and routing, signal grooming, conditional access scrambling, and QAM modulation all within one compact plug-in module. Scaling service to deliver the optimal number of VOD program streams simply requires increasing the number of VSG modules.
In addition, Harmonic's DWDM optical transmission platform will significantly increase the bandwidth capacity of Telewest's HFC access network. In this trial, video servers and other targeted service systems will be centralized in the headend, rather than being distributed in multiple hubs, which is expected to greatly reduce Telewest's maintenance and real estate costs.
Harmonic has worked closely with Telewest to define the optimum architecture for this bandwidth-intensive service. Traditional hurdles to large-scale deployment of VOD can be overcome as cutting-edge, open-standards solutions from Harmonic and other vendors work in concert for the cost-effective delivery of VOD. About Harmonic Inc.
Harmonic designs, manufactures and markets digital and fiber optic systems that deliver video, voice and data over cable, satellite, telco and wireless networks. These advanced solutions enable cable television and other network operators to provide a range of interactive broadband services that include high-speed Internet access, telephony and video-on-demand.
Harmonic is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., where it also operates an R&D center and a manufacturing facility, and has a sales and support center in the U.K. The company also operates its Harmonic Data Systems subsidiary and an R&D center in Israel. In addition, the company maintains several sales and support centers worldwide. Harmonic is ISO 9001-certified and its stock is traded on the Nasdaq stock market under the symbol ``HLIT.' For more information, check the company`s website at www.harmonicinc.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the schedule and scale of initial and extended launch of Telewest's VOD service, the technological requirements for success of the trial, the expected functions and benefits of Harmonic's broadband solutions, and expected reductions in Telewest's maintenance and real estate costs, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The trial deployment is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Harmonic. In addition, 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 files with the SEC, specifically reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q.
Editor's Note: Product and company names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
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Contact:
Harmonic
Joyce Smaragdis, 408/542-2692
joyce.smaragdis@harmonicinc.com |
