Artel adds SONET/SDH support to Cross Stream video access multiplexer and de-multiplexer

June 25, 2002--Artel Video Systems (Marlborough, MA) today announced the shipment of new versions of its Cross Stream 155M video access multiplexer and Cross Stream 155D de-multiplexer. The new releases add support for both SONET/SDH networks and high definition television (HDTV) applications. Cross Stream 155 products are intelligent network edge devices used to transport MPEG-2 video over ATM networks, delivering advanced MPEG switching, network adaptation, re-multiplexing, and jitter management capabilities.

Cross Stream now supports transport of MPEG video over SONET/SDH networks while utilizing ATM as a basic transport layer, which allows for large aggregated backbone rings containing a number of disparate data types to seamlessly co-exist side-by-side.

Cross Stream 155 has also been enhanced to provide support for HDTV allowing streams with data rates as high as 50 Mbits/sec to be transmitted. This added functionality enables service providers to take advantage of existing ATM or SONET/SDH networks for HDTV distribution.

"The broadband industry is evolving rapidly. At Artel, we are committed to bringing to market products with the features and the quality to drive the roll out of interactive television services," said John Amaral, Artel's chief technology officer. "By adding SONET/SDH and HDTV support to our platform we are allowing service providers to deliver compelling new services quickly and cost effectively."

At the core of Cross Stream is Artel's VideoStorm technology, an MPEG video switching hardware engine designed to handle the routing, switching, and transport of multi-megabit MPEG video services in real-time while managing video-specific traffic types over packet-based networks. VideoStorm is network agnostic, designed to arbitrate large volumes of real-time video traffic between networks of varying technologies.

Cross Stream supports a variety of transmission technologies, including digital video broadcast-asynchronous serial interface, ATM OC-3 UNI, and 10/100BaseT Ethernet ports for remote management. The system adheres to all relevant digital video broadcast standards and ATM forum specifications, enabling providers to easily integrate Cross Stream with other standards-based networking systems. Cross Stream is a one-rack-unit system that combines standards-based interfaces with protocol handling functionality to efficiently distribute real-time high performance video.

Cross Stream is shipping, and has an manufacturer's suggested retail price of $11,995 per unit. Further information is available at www.artel.tv.