UTStarcom, Inc., a global leader in IP-based, end-to-end networking solutions and services, announced that Softbank BB, the leading provider of broadband services in Japan, has chosen UTStarcom's mVision ^TM end-to-end IPTV system to support its new "BBTV" IPTV service, which launched on July 1, 2005.

Powered from end-to-end by the Siemens SURPASS Home Entertainment solution, Belgacom is now delivering commercially available Internet protocol television (IPTV) to its customers as part of its asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) offering, announced the Siemens Communications Group.

Leading technology service provider Ascertane announced it has been chosen to direct technology integration efforts for GlobeVISION's subscription video on demand (SVOD) and IPTV service offerings.

Shanghai Media Group (SMG) president Li Ruigang announced at the China International New Media Forum on June 11 that SMG will launch an IPTV trial in Shanghai soon, reports Eastday. Li said the company's first IPTV trial was launched in Harbin in mid-May. Suburban Zhabei district will be the first area for the Shanghai trial.

SKY Perfect Communications Inc.(SKY PerfecTV), Japan's digital multi-channel broadcasting services company and EdgeStream, Inc announced that they have agreed to begin a three months trial to evaluate EdgeStream's 'Next Generation Video Streaming over IP Technology Platform' for VOD/IPTV in Japan. EdgeStream's disruptive technology platform shall enable for the very first time, broadband users across all networks in Japan to watch uninterrupted Broadcast quality video on demand streams over the public Internet.

Hong Kong based IPTV solutions provider Broadband Network Systems Ltd (BNS) has landed an extensive long-term deal with National Data Japan and United Power to provide broadband content for their STB-based VOD service portal Joy channel at Rakuichi.net.

ANYTIME Pte Ltd, the premier Video on-Demand (VoD) content company in Asia Pacific, announced the signing of a non-exclusive distribution deal with Advanced Datanetwork Communications Co., Ltd (ADC) of Thailand.

Harmonic Inc., a leader in digital video compression and transport solutions for telcos, announced that Plala Networks, a subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) and a leading ISP, is using a Harmonic-based headend to deliver television-over-IP (IPTV) to customers in eastern Japan. Harmonic's versatile high-performance DiviCom ^TM MV 100 encoding platform makes it possible for NTT's Plala Networks to simultaneously distribute broadcast-quality video services via existing DSL and fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) infrastructures to maximize reach and revenue while minimizing operational costs and complexity.

TANDBERG Television announced that it has been selected to provide advanced video encoding and control systems to Malaysia's newest Pay TV platform. MiTV Corp Sdn Bhd (MiTV) is set to launch this summer with a full commercial roll out of a multi-channel IPTV service, with more than 50 live and on-demand channels planned.

"Understanding the content business and not falling for common myths and misconceptions is paramount for telecommunication operators' success at IPTV", Jeffrey Soong, CEO of Hong Kong based IPTV solutions provider Broadband Network Systems (BNS) said at the Broadband World Forum in Yokohama.

Broadband Network Systems (BNS) has teamed up with partners Entone Technologies, Envivio and Widevine Technologies to demonstrate a commercially deployable H.264 end-to-end IPTV solution at the Broadband World Forum Asia in Yokohama this week.

Alcatel announced that SuperSUN, the pay TV Service of Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting Limited, one of Asia's leading pay TV service providers, headquartered in Hong Kong, will use Alcatel's solution to deliver Internet Protocol-based television (IPTV) service to residential broadband users in Hong Kong. In addition, Alcatel is also selected as the integration partner for the project.

The TV broadcasting world in China is about to be turned upside down. The Xinhua writes that "since the Shanghai Media Group got China's first license of IPTV service this month, major broadcasters and telecom operators have been agitated by the breakthrough in this potentially lucrative field."

SKY Perfect Communications Inc., Japan's digital multi-channel broadcasting services company and EdgeStream, Inc announced that they have agreed to begin three months trial to evaluate EdgeStream's "Next Generation Video Streaming over IP Technology Platform" for VOD/IPTV in Japan. EdgeStream's disruptive technology platform shall enable for the very first time, broadband users across all networks in Japan to watch uninterrupted Broadcast quality video on demand streams over the public Internet.

State-owned Shanghai Media Group (SMG) is to launch China's first Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service by the end of June, according to a company official.

China's State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT) gave SMG a nationwide IPTV license and a license to broadcast television programs to mobile phones two months ago, the top media regulator said Monday in a statement posted on its Web site.