NTL TO FUSE TV NETWORK PLATFORMS

NTL have announced plans to forge a common technology platform across the NTL and CWC ConsumerCo Cable TV networks in the UK.
The integration process will ensure that NTL’s customers receive Internet-ready digital interactive TV and high-speed cable Internet services in the home through ‘best of breed’ technology.
Peter Black, NTL’s Chief Technology Officer announced that NTL have chosen Liberate Technologies and the DOCSIS cable modem standard as the technology platform for their combined cable TV and cable modem networks.
Black said: “We have selected tried and tested technologies that provide us with both a stable platform and the best prospects for growth. Our choice of DOCSIS reflects the substantial growth we foresee for high-speed Internet on the TV set. Our choice of Liberate Technologies was made only after the most exhaustive evaluation. Selecting these technologies reinforces NTL’s ongoing commitment to always deliver to its customers the most appropriate solution.”
The set-top box software from Liberate Technologies is already deployed in CWC ConsumerCo franchises providing digital cable TV and interactive services, and completion of the roll-out will result in an identical software environment for the whole of NTL’s UK digital cable television operation.
Scott Falconer, Managing Director of NTL’s Consumer Division, said: “Rolling out new services will be so much easier now that we have a single software environment. We can speed up the delivery of e-mail interactive services and TV based Internet to all NTL cable TV customers. I’m particularly pleased that we have integrated our technologies.”
The set-top box hardware alignment is being phased in over 12 months, protecting NTL’s existing investment in hardware. Networks are expected to be aligned on a similar timescale. In addition, a broadband cable modem network to the same standard as those existing in ‘old’ NTL regions is being rolled out over the CWC ConsumerCo franchises.
This latest announcement follows the achievement of two key milestones for NTL. The rollout of open web access to CWC ConsumerCo customers began on schedule during August and the delivery of interactive services to NTL customers began in September.