Broadband Briefs for 3/12/08
* BigBand Networks names Castonguay CFO
By Mike Robuck
BigBand Networks [1], which is known for its switched digital video (SDV) deployments, announced today that Maurice Castonguay has been named as the company’s CFO, as well as its SVP.
Castonguay has more than 11 years of experience as a CFO for publicly traded, high-tech companies, including stints at Xylogics and Stratus Computer. He currently serves as chair of the audit committee on the board of Cedar Point Communications [2], a privately-held VoIP switching company.
* Verizon’s high-speed Internet expands in Eastern U.S.
By Traci Patterson
Verizon’s [3] high-speed Internet service is now available to an additional 1.2 million customers in 12 eastern states and the District of Columbia.
The service provides customers with a downstream connection speed of up to 7 Mbps for as low as $39.99 per month when ordered with an annual service plan. The following locations are part of the expansion: Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia.
Additionally, Verizon reaffirmed that it is in the midst of building and expanding its FiOS network in hundreds of communities throughout New Jersey. As of today, FiOS broadband and video services are available to consumers in about 270 New Jersey towns.
* GoBackTV enhances MyRV Portal STB interface
By Traci Patterson
At the IPTV World Forum [4] in London, GoBackTV [5] is demonstrating a new CoverFlow-style option for its RetroVue MyRV Portal set-top box (STB) interface.
MyRV Portal is HTML-based lightweight middleware for RetroVue stream-based TV services. The functionality and appearance of the STB's graphical user interface (GUI) are defined by javascript and PHP code, making it easy for operators to customize, maintain and update using open PHP/HTML authoring tools, the company said.
Default navigation includes EPG, time-shifting, video-on-demand (VOD), network personal video recorder (nPVR), personal channels and playlists.
* JDSU’s NetComplete test solution chosen by Deutsche Telekom
By Traci Patterson
JDSU’s [6] NetComplete service assurance system and associated IP test probes have been selected by Deutsche Telekom to support the delivery of its IPTV service.
NetComplete also includes software that enables operators to monitor service quality from central network operations centers. It ensures early recognition of changes in the quality of the streaming video signals – including any decrease in signal strength – prioritizes issues based on alarm levels, identifies the cause of service quality problems and provides reporting tools.
JDSU's IPTV test solutions also include field instruments, such as the HST-3000, a triple-play services handheld tester specifically designed to meet installation and maintenance needs for access networks, including higher bit-rate triple-play services like IPTV and high-definition television (HDTV), the company said.
* Cedar Point providing VoIP for German carrier
By Brian Santo
Cedar Point Communications [7] has gained a firmer hold in Europe with a contract from NetCologne [8], a regional carrier in Germany.
NetCologne is using Cedar Point’s Safari C3 Multimedia Switching System to deliver VoIP throughout the Cologne region, where NetCologne serves more than half a million customers.
“Although quality and reliability of service for our customers are our highest priorities, it was also important that we have a solution that would minimize integration and operational cost and complexity,” said Karl Heinz Zankel, managing director of NetCologne. “Throughout our trials, Safari C3 consistently delivered the performance we require to provide our customers with the best possible voice service.”
* Ixia launches IxRave QoE platform
By Traci Patterson
Ixia [9] has launched IxRave – a patent-pending, end-to-end, remote quality of experience (QoE) and service validation platform.
IxRave enables service providers to isolate faults, verify that end-customers are receiving services and that such services are working according to SLAs, and then continue to remotely monitor their networks, the company said.
"Voice and video services over the fixed broadband network are poised for rapid growth,” said Patrick Kelly, co-founder and senior analyst at OSS Observer. “We forecast global IPTV subscribers will increase from 12.1 million in 2007 to 60.2 million in 2012. Ixia provides active probe testing solutions at the edge and access demarcation points to verify service quality and effectively utilize the remote field workforce.”
More Broadband Direct:
• Nielsen, Charter sign deal for STB data [10]
• Charter’s Allen receives informal inquiries from potential investors [11]
• Time Warner execs hold fire on TWC and AOL [12]
• Motorola puts cash into Invidi [13]
• TiVo connects with YouTube for videos on TV [14]
• Tiscali UK, PCCW deploy Harmonic encoders [15]
• Nortel debuts 40G/100G system [16]
• Broadband Briefs for 3/12/08 [17]