Scientific-Atlanta announced today that it has signed a multi-year agreement with SBC Communications, Inc. to design, build and activate the IP video super hub offices (SHO), IP video hub offices (VHO) and IP video operations center (VOC) for its Project Lightspeed network. This advanced network will be able to deliver video, voice and data services to 18 million households in the SBC 13-state service area.

In this first-of-its-kind network, the IP video super hub offices will use Scientific-Atlanta's state-of-the-art video encoders for efficient advanced video coding (AVC) for standard-definition and high-definition transmissions, and will be capable of serving the entire SBC footprint. Additional Scientific-Atlanta advanced video encoders in the IP video hub offices, located throughout the SBC service area, will provide the essential encoding functions for locally originated content. At the IP video operations center, Scientific-Atlanta's ROSA(TM) Element Manager system will be used to support a broad array of network monitoring and control functions. Scientific-Atlanta's extensive experience with video networks enables it to provide SBC companies with comprehensive, proven system integration services for the SHOs, VHOs, and the VOC.



"The SBC IPTV architecture represents a significant milestone in the delivery of video to the home over DSL. The state-of-the-art IP video super hub offices and IP video hubs we are creating will provide SBC companies with the performance needed to support services on one of the world's most advanced video processing networks," said Jim McDonald, chairman, president and CEO at Scientific-Atlanta. "We also look forward to working hand in hand with Alcatel and Microsoft to assist SBC companies with creating and launching an IP video system."