DENVER – The Motorola booth is always one of the busiest at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo and this time, operators were crowded around the company’s new wireless option to help cable serve small and mid-sized businesses.
The Motorola Canopy solution, part of the MOTOwi4 wireless access solutions, is a scalable platform that supports high-speed broadband applications. Its performance provides one of the lowest total costs of ownership and is designed to enable the reduction of a provider’s start-up, maintenance, and leased-line costs, says the company. The Canopy point-to-point and point-to-multipoint system configurations are deployed in more than 100 countries worldwide and lets cable companies go after small businesses and other commercial ventures such as mini-malls.
The company’s new wireless services solution for the consumer market is based on its MESH networking platform that enables cable operators to use their existing access network infrastructure to more easily deploy Wi-Fi hotspots throughout metro areas. The new Motorola Cable MESH solution can expand the coverage of the HFC network without running new cable. http://broadband.motorola.com
***
Victoria, B.C.’s VCom demonstrated its digital simulcast and WiMAX solutions, with both its CableVista Edge Decoder and VistaLynx Edge QAM being used to demonstrate a digital simulcast solution. Cable MSOs utilize CableVista in their high-speed distribution networks to deliver an analog program tier and as a vital component of sophisticated digital video transport solutions for zoned ad insertion. This edge decoder performs MPEG decoding, analog modulation and upconversion for up to 24 NTSC/PAL channels in a compact 1RU chassis.
The central components powering the WiMAX demonstration are the CableMatrix On-Demand Service Platform integrated with the VCom VistaMAX 802.16-2004 based transmission gear, as well as a DOCSIS-certified CMTS and accompanying customer premise equipment. ODSP is a standards-based policy management platform for delivering next-generation IP-based services such as SIP voice, streaming video, multi-player online gaming and video conferencing with dynamic QoS, on a per-session basis. The combined elements enable QoS enhanced VOIP sessions on the attached DOCSIS network, connected to a corresponding standards based IP voice over the WiMAX air interface. YourLink Inc., a Canadian based broadband service provider and wholly owned subsidiary of VCom, is planning summer trials of the technology. www.vcom.com
***
RGB Networks said at the show it’s ready to grow further with the announcement of a new round of funding totaling US$20 million, resulting in a company valuation of US$110 million – a 150% increase from the previous valuation 18 months ago. The funding was led by new investor Focus Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based firm that provides expansion stage venture capital for leading software, communications, and semiconductor companies. RGB Networks makes advanced video processing products that maximize operators’ offerings by enabling them to optimize bandwidth without rebuilding their existing networks. www.rgbnetworks.com
***
Cedar Point Communications announced at the show that FLOW (the new brand name of Columbus Communications Trinidad) is deploying Cedar Point’s Multimedia Switching System for the delivery of voice services on Trinidad. FLOW (formerly Cable Company of Trinidad and Tobago) plans to roll out its digital cable television service in select areas commencing in June and the company received a broad concession in February for the provision of cable TV, internet and telephone services in Trinidad. "FLOW is pleased to partner with Cedar Point to deliver a robust, reliable telephone service to our customers in Trinidad," said John Reid, president of Columbus Communications Trinidad, who was profiled in February by Cartt.ca. www.cedarpointcom.com
***
Peterborough, Ont.-based Lindsay Broadband‘s latest product sure has a fun name. WAZU, its Wireless Access Zone Unit, is a hardened, easy-to-install WiFi hotspot creating device for a cable operator. The unit contains a DOCSIS modem and extends the cable plant to places it has never been able to hit before, such as businesses, and can create low-cost community-wide hot spots. It can be connected at an power-passing tap. www.lindsayelec.com
More to come later today.
