With its partners HP and Microsoft, Alcatel-Lucent has gone down tier to deliver a compact IPTV solution that helps make the business case for Tier 3 and other underserved markets and showcases Indiana’s Cinergy MetroNet as its first customer.
The Integrated Solution for Microsoft Mediaroom is Alcatel-Lucent’s answer to the problem of scale and cost for smaller and regional operators. It is the first solution using Microsoft Mediaroom that can support up to 100,000 set-top boxes in a single rack of equipment. And it can scale down to 1,000.
In addition to television programming, the solution will provide new consumer media services through the blending and personalization of Web and broadcasting content.
In its full-scale version, the IPTV solution has been in more than 25 large networks globally. This is a “substantially modified” version.
“The last couple of years, Alcatel-Lucent focused on Tier 1 and Tier 2 markets because the business case for IPTV was much more amenable to larger operators,” said Geeta Chaudhary, vice president of Alcatel-Lucent’s Multimedia Integrations Services group. “So [recently] we started offering a very compact IPTV solution specifically targeted to Tier 3 and Tier 4, which we see as a significant growth area, particularly in North America with the broadband stimulus package.”
Cinergy MetroNet will begin offering IPTV services to six cities in Indiana beginning Monday, July 26. Using the integrated solution it can reach approximately 50,000 potential customers. John Cinelli, CEO of Cinergy MetroNet, said services will include WholeHome DVR, interactive applications and over-the-top content.
“Alcatel-Lucent’s IPTV solution fits our business needs and gives us a powerful, flexible, and differentiating tool to deliver IPTV-based services to our customers,” Cinelli said.
Yankee Group principal analyst Vince Vittore said in a statement that operators with smaller customer bases often don't need large multi-rack solutions and that Alcatel-Lucent's approach to this market is unique because it combines a great user experience with a reasonable price point and leverages its experience as a video integrator.
