iesy Selects BigBand Networks for Digital Cable

iesy Selects BigBand Networks for Digital Cable

Networking of Hessen Region System to ish's Kerpen System Fortifies BigBand Networks' Position as a Leading Digital Infrastructure Provider in Germany

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- IBC, Amsterdam -- BigBand Networks, Inc., a leading provider of network platforms for video, voice and data services, today announced that it has been selected to support the launch of iesy's digital program offering. The cable operator will use the BigBand BMR(R) (Broadband Multimedia-Service Router) to source programming from an ish cable system in Kerpen, near Cologne, itself a BMR deployment. This follows the merger of iesy and ish completed earlier this year, forming the second largest German cable operator.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050330/NYW056LOGO)

"Multiple options for digital cable were reviewed by iesy, and the BigBand BMR was selected as the most effective and reliable solution, validated by ish's experience with the platform," said iesy CTO Colin Buchner. "Our digital program launch this year will extend iesy's record of providing high quality offerings to our subscribers, and BigBand Networks is a key partner enabling that."

iesy is to receive digital programming via Gigabit Ethernet networking from the ish Kerpen system. A BMR at that system accesses content from multiple digital sources and controls the video quality and bandwidth efficiency of each program. Another BMR will be in iesy's Hessen system to perform de-jittering, which is designed to assure delivery of high-quality video post-transport, and to incorporate multiple redundant elements for service reliability.

"Working with iesy and ish demonstrates the BigBand BMR's integration of broadband networking and advanced multimedia technologies for better digital television services," said Sam Kershaw, BigBand Networks vice president EMEA. "Germany is the largest European cable television market, and BigBand Networks is proud to be at the forefront with deployments by top operators in the country, such as iesy and ish."

In addition to iesy and ish, BigBand Networks has digital video and broadband IP deployments with other large regional, as well as smaller, metropolitan German cable operators.

ABOUT BIGBAND NETWORKS

BigBand Networks, Inc. designs, manufactures, sells and supports platforms for broadband multimedia services. These platforms are built on open technologies uniquely capable of communicating and processing video, voice and data for best delivery throughout networks. As a result, network operators can cost-effectively expand revenue-generating offerings of rich content and advanced, interactive services. Services supported by BigBand Networks' platforms include high-speed data, voice over IP, digital broadcast television, HDTV, transport of high quality video, local advertising, VOD and iTV. The company has top global broadband service providers as customers, including seven of the ten largest North American cable operators as well as leaders in Asia, Europe and Latin America. BigBand Networks is based in Redwood City, CA. For more information on BigBand Networks, please visit http://www.bigbandnet.com/ .

ABOUT IESY AND ISH

iesy and ish, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main and Cologne, are the largest cable television operators in the German states of Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia. The company's products and services include basic television, digital TV, high-speed internet and telephony. As of June 30, 2005, iesy and ish had approximately 5.2 million basic cable subscribers, 88,450 digital TV subscribers, 27,500 high-speed internet users and 9,800 telephone lines. More information on iesy can be found on its website at http://www.iesy.de/ and more information on ish can be found at http://www.ish.de/ .

BMR and other BigBand Networks brand and product names are service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of BigBand Networks, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050330/NYW056LOGO AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ Source: BigBand Networks, Inc.

CONTACT: Seth Kenvin of BigBand Networks, +1-650-995-5000, seth.kenvin@bigbandnet.com; or Brian Baumley of Euro RSCG Magnet for BigBand Networks, Inc., +1-212-367-6828, brian.baumley@eurorscg.com

Web site: http://www.ish.de/ http://www.iesy.de/ http://www.bigbandnet.com/

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