upc cablecom chooses Transmode for switched video transport

Transmode has announced that Swiss cable-TV operator upc cablecom is the first customer for its switched video transport offering. The Swedish systems house says upc cablecom, part of Liberty Global Europe's UPC Broadband division, chose Transmode's approach for its ability to optimize multicast traffic in light of the growing popularity of HDTV.

The new network, due for completion in Q4 2011, will be based on four interlocking rings, covering all regions of Switzerland. It will serve at least 2.1 million households, as well as approximately 240 smaller broadband cable operators. The network is based on an underlying ROADM-based optical layer to support such capabilities as broadcast services, broadband services, and additional services such as mobile backhaul and business Ethernet.

Alexander Lorenz, upc cablecom's vice president, network services, said, "Before choosing Transmode's solution, we considered an alternative network model based on distributed IP routers. However, we realized this would mean higher costs and complexity as well as higher latency and jitter, which would be undesirable for TV transmissions. Transmode's Switched Video Transport solution not only meets our current plans but allows us great flexibility as our business continues to grow."