RAI Delivers Video Content to Global Online Audience with Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System

MILAN.- Cisco® announced today that Radiotelevisione Italiana S.p.A. (RAI), the Italian public service broadcaster, has deployed the Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System as the high-performance interconnect between its video Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) and the Milan Internet Exchange (MIX). The RAI Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department started distribution of video traffic to carriers via MIX in July following the successful deployment of the CRS-1 system by system integration partner, IBM Global Technology Services. The new network will enable RAI to offer a rich variety of television content to customers over the Web.

RAI is developing the video IP NGN as an open and highly secure platform to support the growing demand for broadband entertainment services and its strategic development of new IP-based platforms for the distribution of digital multimedia content. As a public service broadcaster, RAI has a charter to guarantee access to its program content for Italian citizens via PCs at home and abroad. The current investment will extend RAI TV content to a global audience by making video available at optimal cost. The popularity of web TV is growing in Italy with the RAI web portal, www.rai.tv, receiving 76 million page views per month, representing approximately 14 percent growth year-on-year.

The RAI IP NGN already uses Cisco 12000 Series Routers, and building on the success of that platform, RAI selected the CRS-1 routing system to provide the 2.5 gigabits-per-second point of interconnection with the MIX. The CRS-1 system was considered the right choice to meet RAI’s needs for scalability and realiability, and to be particularly suited to routing the high volume of video traffic that will be flowing through the interconnection point.

“RAI is leading the broadcasting sector in embracing the IP NGN to provide innovative solutions for the broadband entertainment market,” said Stefano Venturi, chief executive of Cisco Italy and vice president of Cisco. “Today’s announcement is another significant proof point that the combination of IPTV and Web TV is driving the transformation of the network in all segments.”