In the Zhone

Zhone Technologies, Inc., a voice, data, video and entertainment services solutions provider, announced an agreement with Telecom Egypt, which will deploy Zhone’s MALC Broadband Loop Carrier Technology to provide VoIP and data services.

Under terms of the agreement, the project will combines= Zhone MALC, Nortel CS2K Softswitch and ATM network technology for purposes of service availability, call quality and billing. Zhone’s MALC will also provide a roadmap for the delivery of voice, video and data services such as ADSL2+, VDSL2, PON, Ethernet and IP Video.

The MALC BLC supports a range of subscriber voice services including POTS, Specials, T1/E1 and VoIP. TDM traffic can be converted to packet at the MALC for transport across the IP network. Since the MALC supports both TDM and packet voice, service providers can deploy today to serve existing services and cut over to packet voice under software control on a port-by-port basis. Dual TDM and packet uplinks are also supported. At the central office, a MALC will be configured with an integrated voice gateway to provide a GR-303 / V5.2 interface to existing local exchange switches.

With a bit of understatement, Zhone Technologies Africa regional manager Ramy Abdallah stated that the contract represents “a major win for us in the region.” Indeed, Telecom Egypt has a fixed line customer base of more than 10.6 million subscribers, making it the largest fixed-line provider on the continent.

In what will surely amount to more coups for the Zhone, representatives of the firm have announced that representatives will unveil high-quality HDTV broadcast using MPEG-4 Advanced Video Codec (AVC) over xDSL as part of a working IPTV demonstration at the IBC convention September 8 to 12 in Amsterdam. The technology was developed in cooperation with partners Tut Systems and Amino Communications.

Zhone and the team will be featuring the MALC Broadband Loop Carrier access system for delivering enhanced IP services and especially IPTV. Both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 standard definition and high definition video services will be demonstrated using ADSL2+, VDSL2 and Active Ethernet from a single MALC platform. High-speed data and VoIP services will also be included as part of what company PR is calling a “triple play solution.” Zhone will also display its extant high-performance CPE products such as the ADSL2+ and VDSL2 routers and an Active Ethernet ONT.

Steve Klein, director of video solutions for Zhone Technologies, threw down the gauntlet in a press release recently, stating that "Zhone is delighted to be among the first to publicly show a fully functional and working demonstration at IBC. The availability of MPEG-4 AVC compression of HDTV over IP alters the playing field in favor of telephone carriers who can now position IPTV over DSL against cable and satellite operators, who have used HDTV as a competitive weapon."

Zhone partners also have toys to show off. Tut Systems will showcase its Astria content processor with its MPEG-4 AVC HD transcoding solution. Amino Communications will provide its new single chip AmiNET 130 IPTV set-top box that supports MPEG-2/MPEG-4 and HD/SD. Zhone partner Minerva Networks will also be on hand in Amsterdam to demonstrate IPG, VOD, PVR, Mosaic PIP and caller ID / TV functionality with its middleware. Kasenna will provide the VOD system integrated with Minerva demonstrating both standard definition and high definition streaming video.

Oakland, Calif.-based Zhone Technologies is a supplier of Ethernet and IP communications network equipment for telephone companies and cable operators. Zhone specializes in the niche market of broadband loop carrier technology.  Zhone technology has been deployed at over 600 carriers worldwide.

Lake Oswego, Ore.-based Tut Systems, Inc. is content processing, distribution product, and comprehensive system integration services provider for broadband networks.