Broadband network provider WINfirst has selected Harmonic Inc. (Nasdaq:HLIT) open system solutions for digital headends in Sacramento and Dallas where WINfirst is building an entirely new, fiber-to-the-home network. Harmonic has also contracted to provide professional services, including system design and integration with other third party technologies supporting the WINfirst interactive TV platform.
The WINfirst deployment features Harmonic's digital TV headend systems including the DiviCom family of encoders, MN20 multiplexers, SimulCrypt conditional access interfaces, the Narrowcast Services Gateway for video-on-demand applications, and the InterSect IP set-top gateway. These systems will enable WINfirst to offer over 200 digital channels of high-quality video and audio, enhanced pay-per-view, and video-on-demand services.
WINfirst is building a fiber optic network designed to offer high speed Internet, cable and telephone service to residential neighborhoods. The optical link will enable WINfirst to provide an Internet service that will be some 65 times faster than typical 1.5 Mbps high-speed connections offered via T1 or DSL and cable modem. WINfirst has received regulatory approval to build networks reaching more than 3.7 million homes in Sacramento, San Diego, Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Seattle; and has received a temporary permit pending full approval in Portland, Oregon. In addition, WINfirst is pursuing regulatory approval in Los Angeles and the San Francisco East Bay area.
WINfirst's deployments include Harmonic's Narrowcast Services Gateway for video-on-demand applications, which provides superior processing of multiple high capacity servers inputs, multiplexing, program filtering and routing, conditional access scrambling, and an eight-channel QAM modulation and upconversion. The InterSect IP Gateway for set-top boxes provides a two-way digital data path to set-top boxes, supporting the next generation of interactive TV applications.
Harmonic's DiviCom encoders offer WINfirst greater processing power and superior noise reduction. By providing high-quality pictures at consistently lower bit rates, the encoders enable WINfirst to reduce capital outlays by increasing network bandwidth efficiency. The MN20 multiplexer enables the combining and grooming of custom multiplexes of broadcast audio, video and associated data programming, while the THESYS platform provides integrated and advanced element and network management.
In addition to providing hardware, Harmonic will also act as lead integrator for the video head-end and will take on responsibility for delivering an integrated, end-to-end system. WINfirst will be drawing on Harmonic's Global Professional Services organization of program management, digital video technology, transmission systems, and field support.
About WINfirst:
WINfirst is building a new fiber-to-the-home residential network using fiber optic technology in conjunction with Ethernet networking standards to break the last-mile bottleneck. For more information, visit www.winfirst.com.
About Harmonic Inc.:
Harmonic is a provider of broadband solutions that deliver video, voice and data to communications providers. Harmonic's technically advanced fiber optic, digital video and IP data delivery systems enable network operators to provide high-speed Internet access, telephony, digital video, HDTV, video & audio streaming, and video-on-demand. For more information, visit www.harmonicinc.com.