RingNett to Expand IPTV Service With Envivio 4Caster C4 Encoder
The Convergence Generation solution chosen by RingNett is based around the 4Caster C4 multichannel IP video compression system. The C4 features an IP input that allows digital TV content downlinked from satellite to be input as MPEG-2 transport streams over IP. The solution's IP architecture allows the C4 encoding platform to be fed directly from the existing RingNett downlink system, which delivers MPEG-2 services over GPON and Active Ethernet, without the need for major re-engineering of the video headend.
"We concluded that the MPEG-2 stream processing we were using for our fiber delivery could not offer the quality of service our customers have come to expect from us at the bandwidths we needed to make ADSL2+ delivery feasible. MPEG-4 AVC transcoding was the obvious choice, and after reviewing similar solutions from several other vendors we selected Envivio, based on their track record, very impressive support team and diligent account management," said Eirik Lund, CEO of RingNett AS.
RingNett will offer high availability VOD services and 60 channels of standard definition (SD) IPTV using MPEG-2 streams taken directly from satellite and delivered over high bandwidth fiber connections. Transcoding these services to MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) more than halves the bandwidth required to achieve the same video quality, and converts the variable bit rate (VBR) satellite feeds to the constant bit rate (CBR) streams required for reliable xDSL delivery.
"We already have a satellite downlink system that feeds MPEG-2 services over IP for delivering IPTV content to our fiber connected subscribers. The C4 just slots in to our existing headend and gives us nearly instant access to the much larger number of subscribers we have on our ADSL2+ network," continued Lund. "The Envivio solution puts us in a position to leverage both our existing ADSL2+ clients, and clients on our emerging FTTx networks, using the same open and scalable IPTV service platform."
"We designed the IP architecture of the C4 encoder specifically to simplify this type of fiber to DSL service extension," said Julien Signes, President and CEO of Envivio. "Moving to Envivio's very efficient MPEG-4 AVC encoding will allow RingNett to offer their IPTV service to many more customers. We look forward to helping RingNett expand the reach of their IPTV service."
A revolutionary encoding system for IPTV deployments, the Envivio 4Caster C4 multichannel IP video encoder is built on a flexible standards-based architecture that allows operators to reconfigure service offerings, add product features, and update encoding performance without having to change hardware. As part of the Convergence Generation headend, the C4 takes an MPEG-2 Transport Stream over IP input and provides high quality, high density MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) video and AAC audio transcoding.
For service providers who must compete in both fixed and mobile environments, the 4Caster C4 supports the "Three Screens" of consumer video – TVs, PCs and mobile phones – from the same platform.
