Cisco Systems today announced that BT has verified the functionality of the Cisco CRS-1, the core component of the Cisco IP Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture and an optimal platform for scaling digital video and IPTV applications and enabling network convergence using Secure Virtualization.

In the test, conducted in July of this year, three Secure Domain Routers (SDRs) were established in-service on a single CRS-1 multi-chassis system for broadcast TV, video-on-demand and core applications. The test showed support for 400,000 simultaneous unique multicast streams, and support for priority queuing and traffic shaping, protecting important digital video or voice-over-IP (VoIP) traffic from increases in latency and packet loss caused by oversubscription in lower traffic classes.

The CRS-1 was capable of creating new SDRs in-service without affecting the operation of any other SDR, demonstrating an ability to run multiple instances on a single routing system without interference or failure. This reliability and availability is critical to digital video and IPTV delivery.

"BT concludes that the CRS-1 SDR implementation represents a high-performance solution that can be used by service providers to deliver complex video services and converge existing router deployments onto a single next-generation platform," said Daniel Percy, Network Integration Engineer for BT.

"Exponential growth in digital video and IPTV will drive an entirely new set of metrics for throughput, capacity and performance at the core of the network," said Dr. Ray Mota, Chief Strategist for Synergy Research Group. "The Cisco CRS-1 offers service providers a set of capabilities that enable the delivery of dynamic video services. As a result, Cisco has recently gained market share in the core segment."

The four-slot single chassis CRS-1 was evaluated for multicast performance utilizing a 10GigE IP over dense wavelength division multiplexing (IPoDWDM) interconnect, and was found to be comparable in performance to the CRS-1 multi-chassis router.

Distributed deployment of 40 gigabit-per-second (Gbps) routing helps ensure that providers are able to meet the ever-increasing demands for bandwidth and performance needed for delivery of video services including digital cable, IPTV, video-on-demand (VoD) and high-definition television (HDTV). The Cisco CRS-1 is the industry's only carrier router designed to offer continuous system operation, advanced service flexibility and system longevity. The Cisco CRS-1 is powered by Cisco IOS(R) XR Software -- a unique, self-healing, distributed operating system designed for always-on operation while scaling system capacity up to 92 terabits-per-second (Tbps).

Publicly announced CRS-1 customers include BT, Cable & Wireless, Comcast, China Telecom (ChinaNet), China Education and Research Network (CERNET), Easynet, Korea Telecom, the National Institute of Informatics' SuperSINET research network in Japan, National LambdaRail, MTS Allstream, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center(PSC), SaskTel, Softbank Yahoo! BB, Strato Medien AG, Swisscom, Shanghai Telecom, Telstra and VTR.

"The Cisco CRS-1 is an increasingly obvious choice for scalable, available and flexible digital video and IPTV service delivery," said Kelly Ahuja, vice president and general manager of the core routing technology group at Cisco. "With advanced multicast and QoS capabilities, in addition to its enablement of Secure Virtualization and its industry-first optical integration, it's no wonder that providers worldwide are choosing the CRS-1 as the basis for delivery of their most advanced and demanding applications."