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• Blasting Through Cable Telephony Myths, Part 2 BGR wraps up its talk with Michel Nadeau, president/CEO of Minacom, about top myths that exist in cable telephony.

Products

MetaSwitch Targets Cable With New IMS-Based Solution

MetaSwitch unveiled a new IMS-based telephony solution aimed at the cable market called COMPETE! (Cable Operator Multiservice Platform for Enhanced Telephony Evolution). The new platform is said to enable cable ops to offer voice services to both business and residential customers, including hosted PBX, unified communications and converged T1 services over IP. According to MetaSwitch, a key advantage of the solution is that it can be deployed as multiple distributed network elements, for scalability to hundreds of thousands of end users, or in a "drop-in" solution that integrates all the key telephony functions in a single chassis.

COMPETE! features Cisco's IP Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) infrastructure components including the Cisco uBR7246VXR and uBR10012 CMTS, Linksys MTAs and Scientific Atlanta set-tops. COMPETE! is enabled by Cisco's Service Exchange Framework (SEF) component of IP NGN, which enables cable operators with seamless support for IMS as well as non-IMS applications — including Web 2.0 applications, .NET applications and others. Other components of the solution include MetaSwitch's multimedia session control and application server and equipment from other companies including middleware for TV-based services such as on-screen caller identification (CID), missed call list and voicemail. In addition, as part of the COMPETE! solution, MetaSwitch announced support for dynamic quality of service (DQOS) within its call management server component.

Harmonic Unveils World's First Multichannel, Multiservice HD H.264 Encoder

Harmonic announced the new DiviCom Electra 7000 high-definition MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) encoder. Reportedly the world's first multichannel, multiservice HD H.264 encoder, the Electra 7000 supports up to four full-resolution HD channels and can simultaneously create low-resolution services for picture-in-picture (PiP) or multi-channel mosaic applications. Customers have confirmed bit-rates 20-30% lower than any currently deployed HD H.264 encoder, according to Harmonic.

The Electra 7000 addresses the challenge of how to minimize bit-rates while providing superior video quality as ops expand their service portfolios to include additional HD programming, VOD, personal video recorders (PVR), network PVR and other applications. The product's compression engine is based on a new architecture that utilizes single slice video processing and other tools including advanced video pre-processing and full multi-pass LookAhead encoding. The encoder supports constant bit-rate (CBR) or variable bit-rate (VBR) encoding for all resolutions in 1080i and 720p formats, as well as native 5.1/7.1 audio encoding.

Moto to Snap Up Broadbus

Motorola announced that it will acquire Broadbus Technologies. Broadbus' solutions, which include the B-1 video server shown here, enable the distribution of on-demand content to consumers through multiple devices. The company's solid-state server architecture is based on the intelligent configuration and management of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM). According to the company, the platform can use less space and power than traditional hard-disk based technology, while providing performance, reliability and scalability improvements for video ingest, streaming, and storage.

With the acquisition, Motorola will extend its video delivery platform with new content management and distribution capabilities that address growing market opportunities such as mobile video, VOD, time-shifted TV, network DVR, on-demand ad insertion (ODAI) and switched digital video (SDV).

Minacom Plays Nice With Cedar Point

Minacom announced that its patent-pending technique to perform MTA loopback VoIP testing to subscriber MTAs has successfully been tested with Cedar Point Communications' SAFARI C³ multimedia switching system.

Minacom's MTA loopback testing allows cable ops to remotely measure service quality as perceived by subs by testing directly to their MTAs, without having to deploy a tech. More than 55 measurements are performed during the test, including MOS, echo, noise, latency, connectivity metrics, and DTMF (touch tone) transmission. When requested by a Minacom PowerProbe 6000 service level test probe, the SAFARI C³ establishes a loopback connection over true PacketCable Dynamic quality of service (DQoS) voice channels to any DOCSIS 2.0-compliant MTA). Both NCS network continuity (analog/post-codec loopback) and real-time transport protocol (RTP pre-codec/NCS Network) loopback connections are supported, allowing ops to test media delivery and MTA codec performance independently.

Imagine Slashes Its Initial Product Development Time By a Third

Imagine Communications is using Teja Technologies' NP software platform to develop its QOD (Quality On Demand) Gateway system, a personalized TV platform. Imagine's QOD Gateway introduces third-generation statistical multiplexing technology that dramatically improves bandwidth efficiency and video quality. The QOD Gateway is powered by advanced network processors on ATCA circuit cards.

The adoption of Teja NP as a primary part of its embedded software platform is enabling Imagine to go to market with its initial product in under a year, thus slashing development time by at least one-third of what it would have taken otherwise. Imagine's initial product is focused on the MPEG-2 VOD (video on demand) cable market and is on schedule for field trials later this year.

Ripley Is Ready for Its Fiber Closeup

Ripley's Miller division introduced its new fiber-optic inspection microscope with models available in either 200x or 400x magnification strengths. The microscope with achromatic glass objective comes standard with a universal adapter that accommodates nearly all ST, SC and FC connector ferrules. Adapters for other connector types are available upon request.

It utilizes a LED for illumination providing for up to 100,000 hours of lamp hour life and long battery life using three AAA cells, which are included. There also is a side illumination port that allows back lit inspection of jumpers and also can be used as a fault finder. The product uses coaxial illumination where light travels along the same axis as the fiber inserted into the microscope, allowing for a more detailed image showing even fine scratches and contaminants.

Ripley's Miller division also introduced the CCT-2001 fiber continuity tester that works with both single and multimode fiber and is compatible with almost all types of connectors including ST, FC, SC, LC, and MT-RJ. The high intensity and long lasting LED light source is said to be an effective way to check both single and multimode fiber.

Wave7 Looks to Dramatically Reduce SRS Degradation of Video

Wave7 Optics introduced its patent-pending "idle-code mitigation" technique, enabling delivery of enhanced RF video services via EPON and GPON FTTP systems. One of the key characteristics of data transmission, the use of idle codes can cause significant interference to RF video signals through a phenomenon known as Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS). Specifically, the downstream data wavelength (1,490 nm) is close enough to the required video wavelength (1,550 nm) to cause SRS interference. Idle periods significantly exacerbate this problem because the repetitive idle pattern has strong frequency components that overlap key TV channels. That interference can result in a significant degradation of the video quality, rendering the RF video service unacceptable to subs.

Wave7's technique is said to dramatically reduce this SRS degradation of the video signal, restoring video quality. This technique does not violate IEEE 802.3ah or ITU-T G.984 standards, is completely compatible with existing standards-compliant equipment, is software-based, and enabled via an optional software key.

SCTE Calls for ET '07 Paper Ideas

SCTE is seeking proposals for technical papers to be presented at its Conference on Emerging Technologies (ET) 2007 set for Jan. 23-25, 2007, in Houston, TX. The ET 2007 Program Subcommittee, chaired by Ray Sokola, CTO at Motorola, will review all technical proposals. The theme for the conference is "My Network! My Services! No Boundaries!"

Technical paper proposals must be submitted to SCTE by Aug. 11. More submission details are available at www.scte.org/content/index.cfm?pID=193.

Belden Catalogs a New Corporate Identity

Belden issued the 2006 edition of its master catalog. Besides offering lines of copper and optical fiber electronic cables, the 2006 Master Catalog incorporates new product/system solutions, including data network connectivity, structured cabling systems and services, enclosures and racks, surface raceway systems, cable management accessories, and power over Ethernet (PoE) systems.

In other Belden news, the company is introducing a new corporate identity by launching an initiative that "unifies its corporate identity with its flagship brand: Belden." To reflect the company's expanded product position as a supplier of signal transmission solutions, Belden also is introducing a new brandline: "Belden — Sending All the Right Signals."

Sigma Joins Level 3 Alliance

Sigma Systems joined Level 3 Communications' (3)VoIP Technology Alliance Program (TAP) to provide a complete end-to-end telephony service management solution, including competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) intercarrier, electronic bonding gateway (e-bonding) integration. With its focus on interoperability testing, the (3)VoIP TAP program is said to help customers avoid many of the potential technology hurdles involved with a VoIP implementation. Together Sigma and Level 3 have developed an e-bonding solution to automate the telephony provisioning and activation processes for ops.

Feature: Blasting Through Cable Telephony Myths, Part 2

This is the final installment of a two-part article. Part 1 ran in the last issue of Broadband Gear Report, and can be found here. Michel Nadeau, president/CEO of Minacom, recently shared with BGR what he calls "the Top 10 myths about cable telephony direct from the trenches." What follows is a review of the final five myths, and Nadeau's explanation of what he believes is the reality.

BGR: Myth #6 is "Mean opinion score (MOS) says it all!" in your list of the top 10 cable telephony myths. Will you expand on that?

Nadeau: A tech thinks, "I got a good MOS, so I can leave and everything will be fine. There's no need to check anything else."

But, does MOS tell you everything, and which MOS are you talking about? Is some MOS better than others?

Knowledge of the test techniques for MOS ratings is required to better manage and understand what the issues are. MOS brings simplicity by being a unique index, but does not always look at the whole picture. So, beware!

Someone might say, "I listened to a 3.0 rated call and I thought it wasn't so bad. Should we lower our acceptance standards?" The answer is no. The human ear can sense it is OK because the human brain is attached to it, and decodes extremely well. But think about interactive voice response (IVR) and direct banking applications, and their needs for voice recognition and speech security algorithms. What if the call has dual encoding on top of it like when you're calling a mobile number or through an interconnect using VoIP compression?

Test units can hear the glitches that make voice recognition not work well, whereas a technician listening cannot hear these subtleties.

BGR: Myth #7 is "I don't see any alarms." The tech might say that he's checked the whole path from the switch to the MTA, and not a single piece of equipment has any alarm. So, the service must be working."

Nadeau: IBM Micromuse Netcool or HP Openview show service level stats from network elements alarms, but do they truly see it all? Service degradations can occur even when all the equipment shows a perfect green status.

When that occurs, active testing is required to get the vision from the customer's perspective, with true end-to-end reach. That's something that no passive or fault management platform can provide. That's why all well-managed networks use both active and passive systems to complement each other in providing both the network element feedback and the customer's service perception feedback.

BGR: "Why check the fax and modem?" is the question behind Myth #8. Will you explain?

Nadeau: Techs may ask: "All our cable voice subs are residential and have broadband Internet, so why would I need to check the fax and modem?"

First, TV is a residential service, but voice is used both by residential and business subscribers. The business phone revenues carry lot more margins, so cable should take a close look at business telephony.

Even in residences, you may find "modem hooked-up devices and modem-related applications" such as fax, Tivo, banking, legacy mainframe apps, etc.

Also, the Fax G3 spec has a line test built in, and fax machines are widely deployed and publicly available, so the use of its line test is a good indicator of the voice path quality. Dial-up modems are widely available as well, and offer reliable source of roundtrip delay and bidirectional "negotiated speed" test result that is another source of quality assessment on the voice channel.

BGR: "Echo? What echo?" is your Myth #9. In other words, "I had a customer call in complaining about echo. We sent a technician, and no problem was found. The customer is still complaining though."

Nadeau: Echo has two sides: talker and listener. When you hear echo, the issue is always on the remote end's network, not your network. When a customer complains about echo, sending a technician to the home is not always the best solution. Echo happens at hybrid 2W locations or gets into the system acoustically.

BGR: That brings us to Myth #10, "Send a technician."

Nadeau: This comes from the idea that "I don't see any alarms, and the customer is getting fed up, so the only thing we can do is to send a technician!"

A new test that is now available on various soft switches that allows for testing telephony once a week. That test tells the switch to loop the MTA at either the RTP side or the analog side, and then performs the test when the switch is ready to do so.

It's a single-ended MTA loopback cable VoIP test that works on Cedar Point, and is scheduled to work on other major switches some time this summer (namely Cisco, Siemens and Nortel). It's supported by Arris, Motorola and Scientific-Atlanta, and is patent pending from Minacom.

Deployments

• Chilean telecommunications and cable provider VTR has deployed the Cisco CRS-1 carrier routing system, the core component of the Cisco Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture, to facilitate the growth of triple-play services over residential broadband connections. VTR is the first telecommunications services provider in Latin America to deploy the Cisco CRS-1.
• MetaSwitch says its IMS-based softswitch solution is being deployed by more than 10 cable operators, including Clear Creek Telephone & TeleVision, Cunningham Communications, Penasco Valley Telecommunications and Vidia Communications. These ops have adopted MetaSwitch's COMPETE! solution in order to deliver a range of enhanced telephony services. For more about COMPETE!, see the "PRODUCTS" section of this issue.
• Casema BV, a cable op in the Netherlands, has expanded its deployment of Scientific-Atlanta technology to include the new Digital Content Manager (DCM) and advanced multiplexers.
  
  Casema, which chose an S-A iLYNX platform to create an extensive video backbone across its service area in 2002 and 2003, also selected multiple model D9655TM multiplexers from Scientific-Atlanta for the new headend. These advanced multiplexers, along with several DCMs, are already in service for Casema, creating a redundant digital headend to serve its 1.4 million subs across its service area in the western region of the Netherlands. Additionally, S-A's EMEA SciCare Professional Services group of systems integration experts provided installation, commissioning, configuration and training.
• Siemens Communications announced that its Surpass next-generation IP-based softswitch platform has helped its customer, Cablevision, sign up one million subscribers to the company's VoIP service in less than three years. Siemens' Surpass platform supports multiple network configurations and has the capacity to support up to 150,000 subs in a single softswitch.

The Playing Field

• Industry vet Michael Crotts was named VP of national accounts at Aurora Networks, and Tom DeMuse joined the company as account manager for Aurora's mid-America region. Prior to this, Crotts was a regional account executive for C-COR, a position he held since 1984. DeMuse previously served as senior account manager for ADC.
• Jones/NCTI recently hired Joe Thomas as a curriculum developer and Erik Hultman as a business solutions sales manager in the professional services area.
  
  Thomas will be responsible for editing, updating and creating effective and relevant course content for the broadband industry. Thomas is a 26-year cable and telecommunications industry veteran and has supported MSO and carrier deployments of video, data and optical technologies while working at Jones Intercable, Scientific-Atlanta, 3Com, Lucent Technologies, Aurora Networks and OpVista.
  
  Prior to joining Jones/NCTI, Hultman was a client for nearly five years, serving as the national sales manager rep for a Web-based training content development company.
• SCTE announced the chairs of the standing committees of the Society's board of directors for the 2006-2007 term. SCTE Chairman of the Board Yvette Gordon-Kanouff, SVP and chief strategy officer for SeaChange International, appointed the following six chairs:
  
  
  • Engineering Committee — Charlie Kennamer, Comcast
  • Finance Committee — Bob Macioch, Time Warner Cable, SCTE Region 4 Director
  • Membership Committee — Frank Eichenlaub, Scientific-Atlanta, SCTE Region 2 Director
  • Operations Committee — Tom Gorman, Charter, SCTE Director-At-Large
  • Planning Committee — Dermot O'Carroll, Rogers Cable, SCTE Director-At-Large Canada
  • Professional Development Committee — Gene White, Bright House Networks, SCTE Region 9 Director
• Vyyo Inc. appointed veteran cable business services executive Ho Kim as director of sales, western territory. Kim, who joins Vyyo after two years with Charter, will be responsible for working with cable ops to create and deploy business services solutions that leverage Vyyo's T1 over coax and UltraBand spectrum overlay products.

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