Cisco to Showcase Complete End-to-End Solution for IP- based Contribution and Distribution Networks @ IBC 2007

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands.- Cisco® and Scientific Atlanta, a Cisco company announced today that they will be showcasing the next generation of broadcast contribution and distribution solutions over Internet Protocol (IP) at IBC 2007 (Booth 1.471). The innovative IP technology draws on Cisco’s IP technology leadership and Scientific Atlanta’s video-delivery expertise to provide a complete end-to-end solution for broadcasters and video network operators. These operators face growing requirements for transporting high-bandwidth high-definition and standard-definition content while reducing CAPEX and OPEX.

In order to provide the best solution for operators, Cisco and Scientific Atlanta have introduced a full range of video adaptation products catering to any bandwidth and quality requirement (uncompressed, JPEG2000, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4 AVC). These include Scientific Atlanta’s D9402TM IP Receiver, D9430TM SDI Gateway, D9431TM SDI JPEG2000 Gateway, D9432TM HD SDI JPEG2000 Gateway and D9435TM IP Video Gateway, which will be launched simultaneously at IBC. Among the Cisco edge routers and metro platforms that form a key part of the broadcast contribution and distribution over IP are the high-end Cisco Carrier Routing System CRS-1 and 7600 Series Routers, the medium-range Cisco 7300 Series Routers and Cisco Integrated Services Routers and the Cisco 3750-ME and ME3400 medium-range Metro Ethernet platforms. A select group of the routers and metro platforms will be on display at IBC. Also on display will be the Scientific Atlanta Digital Content Manager (DCM) with a new feature providing IP forward error-correction capabilities.

Cisco and Scientific Atlanta are teaming with Dimetis GmbH, a full-service Broadcast OSS supplier, to provide its service-oriented architecture (SOA)-based video-aware BOSS© Broadcast Platform for the monitoring, control, and scheduling of IP/Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) based contribution and distribution links. The Dimetis BOSS© Platform incorporates a modular and flexible design to accommodate new-generation services.

“Although IP is a relatively new technology for contribution and distribution, it is becoming the protocol of choice. It is flexible and connection-less and it provides strict Quality of Service (QoS) with managed latency and jitter to reliably deliver TV content. The business and technological benefits that come from using IP-based contribution and distribution over more traditional options allow operators to reduce OPEX and CAPEX while launching new revenue-generating services,” said Dean Rockwell, vice president and general manager, Digital Media Networks at Scientific Atlanta.

A study* conducted by Scientific Atlanta at the end of 2006 stated that by the end of 2009, more than 60 percent of the investment in terrestrial- based video contribution networks will be based on IP, due to the very clear business benefits to operators by migrating to next generation IP-based networks. Cisco and Scientific Atlanta can now offer a complete agreed-upon solution from a single source, featuring an end-to-end system, IP and video expertise, and extensive systems integration.

*Research conducted for Scientific Atlanta by the Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth University, December 2006 - January 2007.