BigBand Networks, Inc., a leading U.S.-based provider of multimedia routing systems, today announced the immediate availability of the company's Broadband Multimedia-Service Router (BMR(TM)) for European broadband network operators and the first-ever European public demonstration of the BMR at the IBC 2001, held at the RAI Centre in Amsterdam from September 14-18 at booth 4.230. At the conference the company will showcase the BMR's digital video broadcast (DVB) grooming, video on-demand (VOD), and digital subscriber line (DSL) solutions.

"Among the many benefits of the BMR, European cable and other broadband network operators can now be equipped with a DVB-ready, broadcast grooming solution that offers operators an immediate advantage over conventional headend grooming solutions through a modular architecture that integrates high-density MPEG remultiplexing, rate shaping, and MPEG switching," said Amir Bassan-Eskenazi, president and CEO, BigBand Networks. "Besides grooming, the BMR offers a multitude of additional features that benefit operators who deploy services such as video on-demand and interactive TV."

BigBand Network's innovative DVB broadcast grooming capabilities enable operators to achieve expanded functionality and reduced operational costs not possible with first-generation legacy grooming devices. The BMR also supports Europe's strong DSL infrastructure, which is responsible for most of the VOD traffic today in European countries.

In a separate press release:

BigBand Networks, Inc., a leading U.S.-based provider of multimedia routing systems including innovative broadcast grooming capabilities, today announced an agreement with BarcoNet, which will OEM and resell BigBand Networks' Broadband Multimedia-Service Router (BMR(TM)) in DVB digital cable network environments worldwide. Belgium-based BarcoNet is an international leader in multimedia distribution solutions for broadband and broadcast applications.

Under the agreement, BarcoNet will sell and support BigBand Network's BMR1200(TM) and BMR100(TM) to DVB digital television platform operators over cable, digital terrestrial and satellite networks. The BMR family offers operators an immediate advantage over conventional first-generation headend grooming solutions through an innovative modular architecture that integrates high density MPEG remultiplexing, RateShaping(TM), and MPEG switching. This approach results in an extremely cost-effective solution for new headend builds and for expansions to existing digital headends. Besides grooming, the BMR platform offers a multitude of additional features that benefit DVB operators deploying advanced capabilities such as video on-demand and interactive TV services.

Bigband Networks