AlcaLu offers telcos compact IPTV kit
25-07-2010
Helps to minimize telcos' technical and commercial risks in launching IPTV
Alcatel-Lucent has announcing a compact IPTV solution built around Microsoft Corp. Mediaroom middleware that can scale to serve markets as small as 1,000 subscribers and as large as 100,000 -- and can roll out service in as little as 90 days. The firm is targeting this product at the smaller telco IPTV market.
Other vendors targeting Tier 2 and Tier 3 telco markets include Calix Networks, Occam Networks and Zhone Technologies. Alcatel-Lucent is hoping to differentiate itself by offering a less costly, single-rack solution that also requires less power, heating, and cooling.
While the solution is based on Microsoft's Hyper-V architecture, AlcaLu says its unique design integration enables its Integrated Solution for Microsoft Mediaroom to serve three times as many set-top boxes in a single deployment, while using a smaller number of servers, than previous Microsoft deployments.
AlcaLu worked with Hewlett-Packard on the development, using the HP BladeSystem with HP Virtual Connect technology to reduce the cabling required and enable the flexibility needed to handle changes in workload demands.
By creating an IPTV solution that is pre-integrated and lab tested, Alcatel-Lucent is reducing complexity for operators, helping to minimize their technical and commercial risks in launching IPTV, and enabling faster deployments, says Geeta Chaudhary, vice president of AlcaLu's Multimedia Integration Services group.
"Alcatel hasn't made a huge leap forward in terms of technology -- it's the total package that's appealing," Yankee Group Research Inc. principal analyst Vince Vittore says. "Just from a cost standpoint, to be able to scale down to 1,000 units, that's a tough business case to make. If they want to dip down into that area it becomes a lot more compelling."
Smaller telcos that initially shied away from Microsoft's Mediaroom platform because of its complexity and the number of servers required have been attracted to the more recent version, launched in early 2009, that requires fewer servers. Alcatel-Lucent is taking that one step farther, says Vittore
Based on a story in Light Reading
Alcatel-Lucent has announcing a compact IPTV solution built around Microsoft Corp. Mediaroom middleware that can scale to serve markets as small as 1,000 subscribers and as large as 100,000 -- and can roll out service in as little as 90 days. The firm is targeting this product at the smaller telco IPTV market.
Other vendors targeting Tier 2 and Tier 3 telco markets include Calix Networks, Occam Networks and Zhone Technologies. Alcatel-Lucent is hoping to differentiate itself by offering a less costly, single-rack solution that also requires less power, heating, and cooling.
While the solution is based on Microsoft's Hyper-V architecture, AlcaLu says its unique design integration enables its Integrated Solution for Microsoft Mediaroom to serve three times as many set-top boxes in a single deployment, while using a smaller number of servers, than previous Microsoft deployments.
AlcaLu worked with Hewlett-Packard on the development, using the HP BladeSystem with HP Virtual Connect technology to reduce the cabling required and enable the flexibility needed to handle changes in workload demands.
By creating an IPTV solution that is pre-integrated and lab tested, Alcatel-Lucent is reducing complexity for operators, helping to minimize their technical and commercial risks in launching IPTV, and enabling faster deployments, says Geeta Chaudhary, vice president of AlcaLu's Multimedia Integration Services group.
"Alcatel hasn't made a huge leap forward in terms of technology -- it's the total package that's appealing," Yankee Group Research Inc. principal analyst Vince Vittore says. "Just from a cost standpoint, to be able to scale down to 1,000 units, that's a tough business case to make. If they want to dip down into that area it becomes a lot more compelling."
Smaller telcos that initially shied away from Microsoft's Mediaroom platform because of its complexity and the number of servers required have been attracted to the more recent version, launched in early 2009, that requires fewer servers. Alcatel-Lucent is taking that one step farther, says Vittore
Based on a story in Light Reading
