Minerva Networks, a provider of carrier-class video networking solutions that enable the delivery of broadcast-quality interactive television and video services over broadband networks announced that NovaMedia selected Minerva's IP Television solution to deliver rich media services to Reykjavik's population of 200,000 residences. NovaMedia, a solution provider in the field of digital broadcasting based in Reykjavik, Iceland, will utilize the country's fiber network to deliver a lineup of live television channels and true video-on-demand (VOD) over an entirely IP-based infrastructure
The initial deployment of the Minerva IP Television solution began in early September. Homes with existing Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections were provided IP-based set-top boxes (STBs) to enable 15 channels of live television with VOD due in October. Over the coming months, additional homes will be fiber-enabled and added to the NovaMedia network. It is anticipated that nearly 20,000 households throughout the nation will experience IP Television by the third quarter of 2002. As the installed base grows, the channel line-up will be expanded to provide additional rich media services such gaming, targeted advertising, e-commerce, email, and Internet access directly from the television.
At the core of the Icelandic video network is the Minerva IP Television Headend, the central point of subscriber management, media aggregation and distribution of on-demand IP Television and entertainment services over Reykjavik's fiber network backbone. Analog and digital content acquisition is executed through use of the Minerva VNP MPEG-2 encoders and Minerva MediaGateways, while Minerva iTVManager software manages live and stored assets as well as back-end administrative functions. Minerva's Professional Services organization provides customization, installation and integration of the Headends to best optimize customer requirements.
In addition, Gold Television(GoldTV), a provider of broadband television services based in Milan, Italy, selected Minerva Networks' IP Television Headend for deployment of advanced television services in Northern Italy. Minerva's technology will enable live television and video-on-demand services over a Fiber-DSL infrastructure to subscribers in the Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto regions by the end of 2001. Combined, these regions encompass a potential customer base of over 10 million subscribers.
GoldTV has recently merged with Logos TV, an Italian provider of sports, education and entertainment content. Logos TV owns the rights to more than 1,500 video productions-totaling over 4,000 hours of movies, sporting events and interviews with popular soccer personalities. GoldTV will make available the Logos TV library of content via its broadband television network.
Minerva's IP Television Headend features all of the key components for the aggregation, management and delivery of video services over a broadband IP network. Minerva MediaGateway DVB-to-IP demultiplexers will be used by GoldTV to multicast up to 50 broadcast-quality television channels over a fiber-DSL network operated by Colt Telecom, a network infrastructure provider based in the UK with offices throughout Europe. GoldTV will use Minerva iTVManager software to perform subscriber management and other back-end administrative functions.
Earlier this year, GoldTV tested the Minerva IP Television platform to validate the broadband network and service offerings. By the first quarter of 2002 paying subscribers will experience GoldTV broadband television services in their homes. Besides live television and VOD, GoldTV is planning to add new services made possible by its flexible IP-based broadband infrastructure. Targeted advertising, near video-on-demand (nVOD), and network-based personal video recording (PVR), which allows users to pause, rewind and fast-forward live television and movies without the need for a local hard drive, are some of the advanced services contemplated by the company.
Minerva Networks' complete IP Television product line is available immediately.
About Minerva Networks, Inc.:
Minerva Networks, Inc. is a provider of carrier-class video networking solutions that enable the delivery of broadcast-quality interactive television and video services over broadband networks. For more information, visit www.minervanetworks.com.
About NovaMedia:
NovaMedia is a solutions provider in digital broadcasting. For more information, visit www.media.is.
About GoldTV:
GoldTV is a provider of IP television services over fiber and xDSL to the Italian market. For more information, visit www.goldtelevision.com.