The ultra-low bit-rate capabilities of Harmonic's DiviCom MV 100 encoder make it possible for CanalSatellite, France's leading satellite distribution and direct-to-home broadcaster, to transport broadcast-quality video over a variety of telecom transport networks.

The headend is monitored and controlled by Harmonic's NMX Digital Service Manager to ensure the highest levels of video quality and service availability.

As bandwidth to the home increases and video compression rates are further reduced, telecom operators and other third-party service providers are introducing an array of broadcast and on-demand video-over-xDSL services.

The pace of these deployments is accelerating worldwide, particularly in regions where market deregulation allows operators to provision the video, voice and data "triple play".

The recently introduced CANALSATDSL service offers 80 channels of broadcast-quality television to ADSL subscribers via the IP and ATM backbone networks of their telecom partners.

"We believe there is a very significant and viable opportunity to increase the penetration of our video services using alternate types of access networks such as ADSL. Providing a comparable viewing experience, which assumes a rich bouquet of channels with equivalent or better video quality, is critical to making this strategy a success," said Christophe Hennequin, Vice President of Technology for CANAL+ Group.

"We were impressed with the MPEG compression efficiency and video quality of the DiviCom MV 100 and have entrusted it with the encoding of our premium content. Harmonic also simplified the operational model by enabling a single centralized headend to serve both Ethernet/IP and ATM distribution networks. This made the business case for the service even more compelling."

In addition to DiviCom MV 100 encoders, which encode the CANALSATDSL premium channels into an MPEG-2 digital format, the video-over-ADSL headend encompasses a wide range of Harmonic systems that further increase the channel count, as well as enhance the scalability, flexibility and availability of the service.

This solution includes a complete digital turnaround platform to incorporate pre-encoded content from third-party providers and rate-shaping systems to further optimize the bit-rate efficiency of that content.

"Utilizing a Harmonic headend based on the DiviCom MV 100 encoding platform, CanalSatellite is able to more cost-effectively expand its service offering and reach a new customer segment," said Dr. Yaron Simler, President of Harmonic's Convergent Systems Division.

"This deployment establishes Harmonic as the leading provider of encoders to direct-to-home and ADSL pay-TV operators in France. It also confirms a leadership position for the groundbreaking DiviCom MV 100 within the global telco TV market."

CanalSatellite has also deployed a series of Harmonic network interface devices, such as the award-winning Broadcast Network Gateway(BNG) and MediaNode MN 20, to more efficiently stream the entire digital lineup generated by the headend over the IP and ATM transport networks.

The service has redundant systems and communication paths, which in conjunction with NMX's ability to dynamically re-provision the infrastructure, ensure the highest levels of availability and optimum performance.

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