News Releases
BigBand Switched Broadcast Now Serving Dynamic Programming To More Than 400,000 Digital Cable Subscribers
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May 8, 2006
REDWOOD CITY, CA - BigBand Networks, Inc., a leading provider of broadband multimedia infrastructure for video, voice and data, today announced that the BigBand Switched Broadcast solution has been commercially deployed in sites serving more than 400,000 digital cable subscribers. Switched broadcast is the practice of dynamically directing live programming only towards the areas within a cable system that exhibit real-time demand, instead of legacy methods of constantly providing all programming to all areas. It is designed to conserve bandwidth in order to accommodate expanding programming, including HDTV, as well as growing services such as VOD, VoIP and faster broadband Internet access. Pilot deployments of BigBand Switched Broadcast have exhibited bandwidth conservation greater than 50% for those programs that are switched.
"This is a great time for consumers in terms of expanding video, voice and data services that are provided by increasingly competitive broadband network operators like the cable companies that are deploying BigBand Switched Broadcast," said Amir Bassan-Eskenazi, chief executive officer of BigBand Networks. "Providing the benefits of efficient service expansion to hundreds of thousands of subscribers is a milestone achievement, underscoring BigBand Networks' dedication to innovative solutions that address the most pressing current needs of our customers."
BigBand Switched Broadcast is designed to provide a seamless experience for cable subscribers able to engage in normal program surfing and use of electronic program guides. When a subscriber selects a program on the switched tier, a management server system determines whether the program is already being consumed in the subscriber's area. If so, the subscriber joins that session and if not the program is dynamically switched towards that subscriber's area. As a result of this method, programs do not consume bandwidth in the areas where they are not being watched.
Facing increasing competition and subscriber demand for more and better digital services, several cable operators have recently identified switched broadcast as a promising solution for conserving bandwidth with less cost and complexity than alternative methodologies such as cable plant upgrades. In addition to the efficiency benefits of switched broadcast, BigBand Networks has recently revealed intentions to leverage the technology for additional, service-enhancing benefits such as delivery of personally targeted advertising, faster program surfing and more open selection of operator conditional access systems and subscriber digital devices.
About BigBand Networks
BigBand Networks, Inc. is a leading provider of broadband multimedia infrastructure for video, voice and data. The company's solutions are designed to process, optimize, and deliver services such as broadband Internet, VoIP, digital broadcast television, HDTV, transport of high quality video, local advertising, VOD, interactive TV and IPTV through any network. Service providers use BigBand Networks' platforms in efforts to cost-effectively expand revenue-generating offerings of rich content and advanced interactive services. Customers include cable operators, U.S. telecommunications companies, as well as leading service providers in Asia, Europe and Latin America. Founded in 1998, BigBand Networks is based in Redwood City, Calif., with offices worldwide. For more information, please call 650-995-5000, email info@bigbandnet.com or visit www.bigbandnet.com.