Solutions

Telco Solutions

The unstoppable success of IP networks has enabled Telco operators around the world to offer voice, data, and now video services using a single unified IP network. While this represents a great opportunity for Telco operators to slow down the erosion of their fixed line customer base, the battle with cable and other operators is just starting.

Today’s IPTV solutions offer various degrees of complexity, performance and scalability. Harmonic is the leading provider of IP-based video delivery solutions enabling operators to deploy services even in the most challenging network environments.

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Multi-Service Approach

The greatest advantage of a full IP network is that operators can decide which services to offer to each of their subscribers. To be consistent with this approach, the Network equipment needs to support a variety of functions for short-term applications as well as longer-term evolutions. Accommodating services such as HD, VOD, network PVR (nPVR) or multidefinition services targeted at fixed and mobile devices, requires flexibility and modularity. Harmonic pioneered the concept of “multi-service platform” by developing products capable of simultaneously delivering video services to the television alongside Picture-in-Picture (PIP)-based Electronic Program Guides (EPG) using lower resolution video.

IPTV eco-systems are integral to Harmonic’s strategy. Harmonic encoders have been integrated with eco-system providers’ middleware. The PIP, Mosaic, Fast Channel Change and Capped VBR features all resulted from a very close collaboration with eco-system vendors. Currently Harmonic encoders are integrated with Alcatel, Huawei (Cascade), Lucent (Imagineo), Microsoft, Minerva, Nortel, Siemens (Myrio), Sun and UTStarcom. Harmonic's On-Demand solutions on the other hand are integrated with Cascade, Minerva, NDS (Metro) and Siemens (Myrio).

Harmonic recommends that IPTV operators choose an ecosystem based on the functionalities offered, performance, cost of ownership and scalability. Harmonic is available to assist with this process.

References

Harmonic has gained a considerable experience in deploying IPTV systems. The table below includes some of Harmonic’s public IPTV references.

Harmonic has deployed more than 30 IPTV services worldwide. According to market research firm MRG1 Harmonic leads the IPTV market in number of channels among Tier 1 operators whereas TDG2 sees Harmonic leading in number of subscribers.