TUS TELEKOM Selects Envivio Convergence Encoding Solution

The Convergence Generation solution chosen by TUs TELEKOM features the 4Caster C4 multichannel video compression system and the 4Stream satellite TV to IP gateway. The C4 encoder is built around a software compression architecture that allows operators to reconfigure service offerings, add product features, and update encoding performance without having to change hardware. 4Stream is an IP-based service gateway that allows MPEG-2 content downlinked from satellite to be delivered to the C4 compression system over a local IP network. This all-IP, all-digital processing of content eliminates the need for traditional intermediate analog or digital video and audio interfaces between MPEG-2 decoders and MPEG-4 encoders, resulting in reduced cost and improved picture quality.

"While Envivio was one of several vendors that showed us high quality video encoding products, the software based compression architecture of their C4 offered a unique level of flexibility. It was the only encoder we saw that included significant video compression enhancements on the product development roadmap, enhancements that would allow us to improve the encoding performance in the future without requiring expensive and disruptive hardware changes," said Andras Pali, CTO of TUS TELEKOM. "The all-IP architecture of the headend is also very appealing. Routing and switching the video signals in IP is very efficient, cost effective and fits perfectly in to our operational environment."

"We are very proud to have been selected by TUS TELEKOM against some strong competition to deliver their first MPEG-4 AVC based IPTV services," said Julien Signes, President and CEO of Envivio. "Many customers, like TUS TELEKOM, are beginning to realize that the vast majority of high end encoders in the market today have almost identical compression performance. This is because they all use exactly the same underlying, hardware-based architecture. However, the software-based architecture used by Envivio offers the same performance as the competition today, yet provides the ability to improve that performance in the future through software, not hardware, upgrades."

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.