German communications infrastructure giant Siemens has scored on its home turf, landing Kabel BW GmbH & Co. as a customer. Kabel BW, which is Deutschland's third-largest MSO, counts more than 2.3 million cable subscribers.

Through the deal, Kabel BW is deploying Siemens' Surpass cable VOIP platform. The MSO will start by launching VOIP services based on PacketCable NCS infrastructure, with an eye on adding SIP-based features to the mix. Applications on its roadmap include unified messaging, fixed mobile convergence, IP Centrex, and an oldie but goodie, ISDN services.

In Europe, Siemens' cable customers include UPC, Com Hem, Casema, and Essent.

In North America, Cablevision Systems is Siemens' marquee customer. Cablevision has now installed more than 1 million cable VOIP lines using the Surpass platform. Canadian MSO Shaw Communications and Mexican operator Multimedios are also key accounts.

Siemens' cable VOIP solution includes its Surpass hiQ 8000 softswitch, which serves as a PacketCable call management server and media gateway controller, and its Surpass hiG 1100 media gateway.