SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A10 Networks® today announced that its AX Series next-generation server load balancers have been selected as the video distribution platform for “Hikari-TV,” a video-to-television distribution service provided by NTT Plala Inc. Consolidating “OCN Theater,” “OnDemand TV” and “4th MEDIA,” which were previously operated by the NTT group as its three main video distribution service brands for TV, NTT Plala’s “Hikari-TV” provides services to deliver various video content for home TV. “Hikari-TV’s” services include those for video-on-demand and multi-channel broadcasting via NTT East and West’s “B FLET’S,” NGN commercial service “FLET’S Hikari Next,” and NTT West’s “FLET’S Hikari Premium.”

The AX Series was selected as a server load balancer (SLB) solution for “Hikari-TV,” which is one of the core services of NGN operated by the NTT group, because the AX Series meets the IPv6 and high performance requirements for accommodating anticipated growth in the number of users. The AX Series recently won the prestigious Grand Prix/Best of Interop Tokyo 2008 award as Best Carrier/Internet Service Provider (ISP) solution for its comprehensive IPv6 solution and high-performance IPv6 server load balancing capabilities.

“After a comparative test with competitive server load balancer products, we selected A10’s AX Series for its advanced architecture, stable and superior IPv6 performance, outstanding cost effectiveness, and prompt support from A10 and partner Bussan Networks,” said Mr. Shinro Nakagawa, General Manager of the Network Engineering Dept. for NTT Plala. “We chose A10’s AX Series as the high-performance server load balancer platform for 'Hikari-TV' since the video distribution service is expected to grow as a future core business of NTT Plala and its killer application running on NGN ('FLET’S Hikari Next') of NTT East and West.”

A10 Networks Inc.