Butler-Bremer Launches Cable IPTV with Harmonic and Falcon IP/Complete

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
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Harmonic’s Direct-2-Edge™ Cable IPTV and Falcon’s Bird to Box Video Solutions Deployed by Iowa Telecommunications Service Provider

ORLANDO, Fla. — TelcoTV 2009 Booth #539 — Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ: HLIT) and Falcon IP/Complete today announced that Butler-Bremer Communications, a cable and telecommunications service provider based in Iowa, has selected the IP/Complete “bird to box” video solution and Harmonic’s Direct-2 Edge™ (D2E) solution for Butler-Bremer’s new cable IPTV service. The new Harmonic/Falcon cable IPTV solution enables Butler-Bremer to offer a comprehensive and high quality service lineup to all of its customers. Butler-Bremer also operates an IPTV service over its existing telephone network infrastructure and a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network.

“Our overall goal is to provide a unique IPTV service via multiple distribution networks–cable TV, Twisted Pair Copper and FTTH. The Falcon IP/Complete total IPTV system and Harmonic’s Direct-2-Edge solution provide the best option in terms of value, quality and reliability, as well as ease of implementation and operation,” stated Richard McBurney, Chief Executive Officer/General Manager of Butler-Bremer.

The Falcon IP/Complete IPTV delivery system encompasses content aggregation from satellites and routers, integration with middleware, and delivery over copper, fiber, and coax to the set top box. The Falcon solution will allow Butler-Bremer to deliver video service to a newly acquired exchange of Shell Rock, using FTTH and Copper networks. In addition, the system enables video service delivery to their cable TV exchanges over the coaxial plant–all from one total system.

Harmonic’s D2E cable IPTV solution, incorporating the industry-leading NSG™ 9000 universal edgeQAM and D2E management software, enables cable operators to leverage their existing DOCSIS® and digital video investments to deliver broadband video to multiple screens, including traditional TV and the PC. D2E addresses the significant challenges associated with delivering DOCSIS-based video content over traditional CMTS-based architectures, and provides a substantial infrastructure cost savings.

“High quality IPTV solutions are important to offer independent telcos in North America the opportunity to provide competitive video services to their subscribers, and we are proud to add Butler-Bremer to our list of customers,” said Donald R. Cook, President/CEO of Falcon IP/Complete.

“Harmonic’s D2E solution offers the versatility and scalability for any size cable IPTV deployment, from a regional service provider up to a national operator with dozens of headends,” said Yoav Derazon, Senior Manager, Cable Solutions and Strategy for Harmonic Inc. “Butler-Bremer can now offer a high quality cable IPTV service without large increases in operating or capital expenditures. Harmonic is committed to enabling a comprehensive range of video delivery solutions for operators like Butler-Bremer, who need a robust, simple and cost-effective solution for delivering a compelling cable IPTV service to subscribers.”