Cisco announces that Danish utility company Bredbaand Nord has launched video services over a Cisco Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network platform comprising a headend from Scientific Atlanta, a Cisco company and a Cisco Ethernet fiber-to-the-home network. The initial service to customers is designed to provide up to 46 channels of video over a connection specified at 100 megabit per second direct to the home with voice and data services to complete a triple-play offering.

Deregulation of the utility industry presents companies like Bredbaand Nord with many new opportunities to expand services. The new video service will provide viewers with 46 analog channels, initially delivered to Bredbaand Nord through an IP link. The new Scientific Atlanta headend will convert the IP programming to analog format for transmission to customers over the utility's fiber network.

Bredbaand Nord is offering broadband services specified at 100 Mbps to subscribers using Cisco point-to-point Ethernet fiber-to-the-home technology with Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series Switches in the access layer and Cisco 7600 Series Routers in the aggregation and core network. Cisco Carrier Ethernet and E-FTTH solutions provide the high availability, security and quality of service required for advanced video delivery such as high-definition video streaming and video downloading. For the subscriber's home, the RTP300 broadband router with integrated phone ports from Linksys, a division of Cisco, allows users to share a broadband connection with several computers and have access to feature-rich telephone services over the same connection.

At the headend, Bredbaand Nord is deploying a Scientific-Atlanta Prisma IITM optical platform, including 1550nm transmitters and amplifiers, to help deliver the performance and versatility required for the reliable delivery of its new video service. Additionally, Scientific Atlanta's SciCareTM EMEA Professional Services is providing extensive systems integration services for the project.