B2 SIGN SYSTEM DELIVERY WITH THOMSON

SWEDEN’S Bredbandsbolaget (B2) have recently signed a system delivery agreement with Thomson Broadcast Systems for the supply of a multi-channel digital head end.
The system, which was jointly designed by Thomson and B2, offers downlink and re-transmission of full broadcast Television over B2’s nation-wide broadband gigabit Ethernet network. A key element in the system is Thomson’s Network Management System that will be able to control third party products.
Lars Ike Norling, CTO at B2, said: “The technology we are acquiring from Thomson will enable us to launch our IP TV service next year. We will offer a range of IP based services from telephony to TV including advanced ISP. With this IP-centric vision, we will gradually be able to offer unique and very innovative aggregation of all media.”
The system is a large installation that caters for the processing of up to 128 digital Television and Radio channels.
Jean-Marc Budin, Sales vice-president at Thomson Broadcast Systems, said: “As it is the first demand in Europe for such a system for distribution of a complete offering of TV and radio channels over IP, we were very interested in participating in this major project, thus pioneering the application with B2.”