Digital video-networking platform to play a key role in enabling DIRECTV to offer 1,500 local HD channels by 2007
CONCORD, ONTARIO – (January 25, 2006) – Aastra Technologies Limited (TSX - AAH) today announced that it has entered into a vendor relationship with DIRECTV to deploy its digital video-networking platform, VideoRunner® for enhanced high-definition programming.
The installation will play a key role in DIRECTV’s expansion of its high-definition and advanced programming services. DIRECTV will have the ability to offer 1,500 local HD channels and 150 national HD channels by 2007, while continuing to expand standard-definition local offerings and other interactive programming.
DIRECTV will also deploy VideoRunner for confidence monitoring within each market, allowing technicians to view real-time picture quality and network connectivity between local market and uplink facilities.
“Broadcasters around the world continue to tap Aastra for our ability to address their current network needs as well as our flexibility to scale and meet future network demands for additional high definition and interactive programming,” said Tony Shen, President at Aastra. “We will continue to make quality products that enable our customers to keep their businesses agile and look forward to increasing our market share in the HD space.”
About VideoRunner
VideoRunner is a next generation converged media network solution that delivers broadcast quality / carrier grade video, audio and data signals with high-speed networking capabilities to broadcasters and cable providers. VideoRunner’s architecture combines the major features of ATM switches, IP routers, MPEG encoders, multiplexers, and decoders all into one platform, with one operating environment.
Key features:
- Broadcast grade signals in a carrier-class package
- High quality analog and digital interfaces for video and audio
- Full MPEG-2 multiplexing and demultiplexing capabilities
- ATM network adaptation using AAL-1 or AAL-5
- IP network adaptation over 10/100/1000T and optical GbE utilizing ProMPEG COP3 R2 FEC
- Concurrent, multi-protocol management interfaces including SNMP and HTTP
- Fault-tolerant, redundant configurations for high-availability networks
About Aastra Technologies Limited
Aastra Technologies Limited (TSX - AAH), headquartered in Concord, Ontario, Canada, develops and markets products and systems for accessing communication networks over the PSTN and the Internet. Aastra serves clients across North America and Western Europe. For more information on Aastra or its products, please visit the website at www.aastra.com/digitalvideo
For further information contact:
Kim Kiley
Holus Bolus PR
401.816.0447
kkiley@cox.net
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