Ruckus Wireless, credited with pioneering "smart Wi-Fi" technology and systems, today announced that it has been selected by Telefonica O2 Czech Republic Czech Republic to support its newly launched IPTV service. Telefonica O2 Czech Republic will provide Ruckus MediaFlex wireless routers and adapters to subscribers who want to enjoy IPTV and Internet access without having to wire or rewire their homes.

"Europe continues to be the hot bed for commercial IPTV services," said Selina Lo, president and CEO of Ruckus Wireless. "People don't want to design their homes around wall jacks, and operators want to speed the time to revenue for new broadband digital services. We are making both possible."

Offered under the O2 brand, the Telefonica O2 Czech Republic's streaming IPTV multicast service, as well as video-on-demand unicast service, are being offered to its existing 400,000 broadband subscribers and ultimately to the nation's 4.2 million households.

Telefonica O2 Czech Republic is initially offering 30 channels of MPEG-4 IPTV packaged within its basic packages O2 TV Entertainment and O2 TV Cinema. Both packages are priced from approximately 13 EUR with additional buy-through options and value-added services like Video on Demand and catch-up TV. Telefonica O2 Czech Republic says it expects strong demand for the service and has technicians to support turning on O2 TV for 400 new customers per day.

Currently television is delivered to consumers throughout the country using competitive coaxial cable, satellite or analog aerial services. Cable, the most popular choice today, has penetrated only 25 percent (1 million consumers) of the market.

"There's a huge, untapped market in this country for digital television service and IPTV represents a significant opportunity that allows us to capitalize," said Michal Taborsky, director of IPTV Services for Telefonica O2 Czech Republic. "A key factor in the delivery of our service was the in-home experience and our ability to quickly install and remotely manage in-home CPE. The Ruckus Wireless platform was the only purpose-built device that could actually do this."

Telefonica O2 Czech Republic delivers IPTV over an ADSL2+ infrastructure with plans to begin providing fiber-to-the-home by year's end. For 150 EUR, consumers have the option of purchasing a Ruckus MediaFlex router and adapter to support location-free IPTV. Ruckus Wireless MediaFlex systems will also be made available in Telefonica O2 Czech Republic retail outlets. Telefonica O2 Czech Republic operates some 130 stores throughout the country.

According to Telefonica O2 Czech Republic, the Ruckus Wireless system was chosen because it reduces installation times, provides high quality video transmission, supports simultaneous voice, video and data -- all while allowing customers more freedom and less disruption throughout their homes.

"We currently send out a technician to install an Ethernet network in the home which can take even two or three hours to provide all the cabling," said Taborsky. "Our goal is to deliver a self-installable wireless solution that can be used for present as well as future digital broadband services within the home without having to send a technician or disrupt the customer's environment. The Ruckus MediaFlex system lets us do this without wires but with the same quality."

Taborsky added that in the future if consumers wish to add more TVs, the process would be as simple as purchasing a Ruckus MediaFlex system, taking it home and plugging it in. "Consumers will be able to literally add TVs when they want and where they want. No more having to make appointments for cable installers, waiting and wondering. We believe that this will be the new model around the world," concluded Taborsky.