Taiwan Fixed Network Media reportedly has selected TANDBERG Television, part of the Ericsson Group, to provide a complete broadcast headend and EdgeQAM solution for the launch of its digital cable services in Taiwan.

 

TFN, which is the home business group of Taiwan Mobile (News - Alert), is one of the largest MSOs in Taiwan and offers a 100-plus channel analog TV service to around 540,000 homes today.

 

The company starting in July says it will broadcast standard-definition and HD channels, using MPEG-4 AVC to maximize bandwidth efficiency. TANDBERG Television’s (News - Alert) business partner in Taiwan, Hitron Technologies Inc., is acting as prime system integrator for the new digital cable headend.

 

“Positioned as home entertainment provider, TFN Media is firmly focused on digital convergence and we want to set the benchmark for digital cable services in the country,” comments James Jeng, COO of Home Business Group of Taiwan Mobile and president of TFN Media Co. Ltd, in a statement.

 

Jeng said that digital TV represents an exciting new era for the company’s customers and it was clear that TANDBERG Television has the technology and the considerable local knowledge to partner with the company as it migrates towards an all-digital TV network.

 

“One of our main requirements for this deployment was that our headend should make it easy to migrate to HD MPEG-4 AVC services,” he added.

 

TANDBERG Television officials while giving details said that TFN Media is deploying the company’s TT1260 Integrated Receiver Decoders, EN8030 MPEG-4 AVC SD encoders, EN8090 MPEG-4 AVC HD encoders, MX8400 Multiplexers and EQ8096 EdgeQAM modulators.

 

Officials said that the company is using an-IP headend configuration and broadcast video is multicast across the customer IP network to four regional headends. The TANDBERG Television nCompass Control system provides configuration, service setup and equipment status monitoring at the central headend and all regional sites.

 

“TFN Media is introducing a range of compelling digital TV services and wants to move quickly towards an all-digital environment. This is a major undertaking and we are proud that our business partner, Hitron Technologies (News - Alert), has the local experience and skills to take the lead role. We look forward to helping TFN Media achieve their digital ambitions,” said Dario Choi, EVP and general manager of TANDBERG Television Asia-Pacific.

 

Eddy Lin, general manager of Hitron Technologies said that TFN Media has set itself ambitious goals for moving towards an all-digital television network so it was important that their headend solution was scalable and flexible.

 

Lin said that the company has developed a strong understanding of their technology and business needs and are very pleased to take overall Systems Integration responsibility for this important project. This deal demonstrates the strength of the company’s partnership with TANDBERG Television in Taiwan.