Cablevision deploys Internet Photonics' optical Ethernet and WDM transport technology to enable video-on-demand network
March 31, 2003-- Cablevision Systems is deploying Internet Photonics' optical Ethernet and WDM transport platforms as a key element of its video-on-demand (VOD) network rollout. The cable operator has completed VOD network deployment in eastern Long Island, in New Jersey, and in the New York-Connecticut region.
"Internet Photonics was able to seamlessly integrate its transport platform into Cablevision's broadband network," said Robert Clyne, vice president of engineering and technologies for Cablevision. "We see VOD as a key component of our digital cable service, which is growing exponentially. Internet Photonics' solution helped us deploy VOD faster, without additional network infrastructure build-out, and reduced the cost of delivering video streams to our customers."
To deploy its VOD network, Cablevision is using the LightStack MX and LightHandler PC. It is deploying the technology on a scale-as-demand-grows basis, with the ability to introduce future premium services with minimal infrastructure investment risk.
The LightStack MX is a 10-Gbit/sec optical Ethernet transport platform that uses DWDM to increase the transport capacity and service delivery flexibility of existing cable infrastructure. It integrates transport and optical networking functionality to provide Cablevision with the ability to connect services to a high speed optical transport network by multiplexing up to eight Gigabit Ethernet services onto a 10-Gbit/sec wavelength.
The LightHandler PC is a scaleable, all-optical passive carrier-grade DWDM wavelength management platform engineered to unleash stranded capacity in Cablevision's existing network. It can be added to an existing SONET/SDH fiber link and opens up an additional 320 Gbits/sec of capacity, which the LightStack MX can leverage - without disrupting the existing traffic. This allows new services to be added into the existing CATV infrastructure without building a separate network.
Many multiple systems operators (MSOs) have targeted 2003 as the year to budget for the introduction of VOD and other revenue enhancing services. The optical Ethernet and WDM-based technologies allow cable MSOs to offer VOD, Internet access, interactive TV, and cable telephony combined with standard CATV broadcast service over the same digital infrastructure.