New features and enhanced network performance deliver capabilities to support additional growth of largest IPTV deployment in North America.

Minerva Networks and SureWest Communications announced enhancements to SureWest's IPTV deployment. Minerva iTVManager 2.0 second-generation service management software delivers new features, and offers performance and scalability improvements to support SureWest's rapidly growing customer base.

SureWest subscribers will enjoy improved on-screen navigation and enhanced parental controls. Intelligent use of multicast technology to refresh and cache EPG and VOD preview data reduce overall network traffic and improve system response. Minerva iTVManager features a native set-top box application that responds fast when changing channels or scrolling through VOD listings.

With over 16,000 fiber-to-the-premise customers, SureWest is the largest IPTV deployment in the country. "We operate in a very competitive market and Minerva's platform is critical to our success", says Bill DeMuth, Chief Technology Officer, of SureWest. "Switching our live subscribers over to the new system was a major project but, because of the close working relationship we have with Minerva, everything went very smoothly. We're quite pleased with the results."

"SureWest is an innovator and one of the first telecommunications firms in North America to successfully deliver IPTV services to a large subscriber base," stated Mauro Bonomi, Founder and CEO of Minerva Networks. "We have been working closely with SureWest to define and develop advanced features that will benefit our entire customer base."