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Cinergy MetroNet selects the solution to offer feature rich
IPTV services to customers in Indiana
Paris, July 22, 2010 – Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU)
today unveiled a turnkey, compact IPTV solution, powered by Microsoft
Mediaroom, that is designed to cost-effectively support networks of between
1,000 and 100,000 set-top-boxes. The solution not only provides high-quality
television programming, but also enables new consumer media services through
the blending and personalization of web and broadcasting content. This new
offer, which uses a single equipment rack, supports more than three times
as many households than previous versions of the Microsoft Mediaroom-based IPTV
solution.
Cinergy MetroNet is the first customer to use the solution and will begin
offering Alcatel-Lucent-powered IPTV services to six cities in Indiana,
reaching approximately 50,000 potential customers beginning July 26, 2010.
The Alcatel-Lucent IPTV offer, called the
Integrated Solution for Microsoft Mediaroom, is a substantially modified
version of an existing solution thatAlcatel-Lucent has previously deployed in
more than 25 [large] networks globally. The system uses Internet protocol (IP)
technology to transmit the television signals and, thanks to the power and
flexibility of IP, enables carriers such as Cinergy to offer a variety of new
services.
“The needs of operators serving smaller customer bases are unique because
they often don't need large multi-rack solutions," said Vince Vittore,
principal analyst for Yankee Group. “Alcatel-Lucent's approach to this market
is unique because it combines a great user experience with a reasonable price
point and leverages its experience as a video integrator.”
How the solution fits with Cinergy MetroNet needs?
This new Integrated Solution is designed to meet the cost requirements of
regional communication service providers (CSPs) such as Cinergy MetroNet who
serve local and regional markets.
“We want to provide our customers superior service and access to such
capabilities as WholeHome DVR, interactive applications and over-the-top
content,” said John Cinelli, CEO of Cinergy MetroNet. “Alcatel-Lucent’s IPTV
solution fits our business needs and gives us a powerful, flexible, and
differentiating tool to deliver IPTV-based services to our customers.”
Cinergy MetroNet plans to offer its customers multimedia services such as
broadcast TV blended with web content; the ability to simultaneously record
multiple shows while watching another; and the delivery of personalized content
such as weather, traffic and news.
About the new
Integrated Solution for Microsoft Mediaroom release
“Operatorswho support from 1,000 to 100,000 set-top-boxes are underserved
when it comes to IPTV and next generation multimedia services,” said Geeta
Chaudhary, vice president of Alcatel-Lucent’s Multimedia Integration Services
group. “To address this need we created an optimized IPTV solution that is
pre-integrated and lab tested, minimizing the technical and commercial risks
associated with launching IPTV services. We estimate that more than 11 million
new IPTV subscribers will be served by regional communication service providers
in the coming three years and this compact release is designed to help our
customers better address this huge opportunity”
In this release of the solution, Alcatel-Lucent has integrated innovative
technology from Microsoft and HP. Some key features of the new solution:
- The solution, based on Microsoft’s Mediaroom Hyper-V architecture, includes
a unique design integration by Alcatel-Lucent that more than triples the number
of set-top-boxes supported in a single deployment and reduces the number of
servers needed.
- This solution is further optimized when deployed on HP BladeSystem with HP
Virtual Connect™ technology, reducing the complexity of the architecture and
increasing flexibility to respond to change in workload demands.
- The small physical footprint means a much “greener” deployment with reduced
overall energy and operating costs.
- Pre-tested in Alcatel-Lucent’s end-to-end IP Transformation Center (IPTC)
laboratories, resulting in reduced technical risk and improved time to market
by as much as 30%.
Alcatel-Lucent also supports regional communications service providers with
a host of IPTV consulting services such as: end-user insight, demand analysis,
IPTV services definition and launch as well as the end-to-end management.
The micro-architecture: Alcatel-Lucent Integrated Solution for Microsoft
Mediaroom supports Alcatel-Lucent’s Multimedia strategy, which
is focused on providing an enriched multi-media experience for end users,
driving subscriber growth, customer retention and new revenues.
About Cinergy MetroNet
Cinergy MetroNet, Inc. provides enhanced communications via its all-fiber,
optic network services to homes and businesses. Cinergy MetroNet’s services
include local and long distance telephone, high-speed Internet access and the
latest in digital cable television technology. Through its fiber optic
infrastructure and services, Cinergy MetroNet improves the quality and the
communities it serves.
About Alcatel-Lucent Multimedia Integration Services
Alcatel-Lucent Multimedia Integration is the market leader in the design,
integration and deployment of IPTV networks and applications. Leveraging years
of experience, broad expertise and extensive investments to develop proven
methodologies, Alcatel-Lucent Multimedia Integration delivers world-class,
end-to-end multimedia services that are reliable, scalable and secure with
reduced time to market. Alcatel-Lucent provides middleware solutions that
support more than 5 million IPTV subscribers, representing more than 18 percent
of all IPTV subscribers worldwide. The company is also involved in more than 55
triple play service delivery architecture (TPSDA) deployments and more than 60
IPTV transformation and integration projects. These transformation projects
leverage Alcatel-Lucent’s extensive field deployment experience and lab
investments in next-generation IP Transformation Centers (IPTCs) and dedicated
IPTV Network Solution Integration & Testing lab (NSIT) to reduce time to
market and mitigate deployment risk. For more information on Multimedia
Integration Services please click
here
Microsoft and Mediaroom are trademarks of the Microsoft group of
companies.
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