Enhanced Content Delivery Network

New router family from SkyStream Networks may enable ISPs to increase the quality of rich media delivered to subscribers by taking advantage of traditional broadcast technologies.

by Wayne Kawamoto
[November 28, 2000]

SkyStream Networks recently introduced its Media Router (SMR) platform, a family of networking devices that should enable service providers to bolster the overall performance of land-based fiber or copper networks (and also improve the picture quality of streaming media content) by adding satellite and broadcast networks into their architectures.

With broadcast technologies integrated in their networks, service providers may be able to deliver rich content (such as streaming videos and video-on-demand) to subscribers more efficiently and economically.

The SkyStream SMR series consists of intelligent network devices that sit at the uplink or headend of a network operator's premises. The devices should enable an ISP to deliver rich digital content, such as streaming Web pages, over broadcast networks like satellite, digital cable, and television, which are cached at the ISP premises or directly on a consumers' PC or set-top box.

The company claims that each SMR features throughput speeds for voice and data up to 160Mbps, which are nearly double those of competing products.

The company says that with SkyStream's new SMR platform and its existing zBand and EMR 2000 products, service providers will be able to build an efficient broadcast-based networking architecture for high-speed content delivery to the edge of the network or directly to the end-user. "The SMR product line gives service providers the ability to enhance their content delivery networks with broadcast technologies to offer services like cinema-quality video, Internet content, and dynamic graphics to their customers' TVs and PCs," said Jim Olson, president and CEO, SkyStream Networks.

"With our recent zBand announcement and now SMR platform, SkyStream continues to be first-to-market with products enabling the delivery of rich content over broadcast and broadband networks, and meeting the increasing performance, reliability and manageability needs of leading service providers in the satellite, cable and digital television industries."

This week, SkyStream also announced the launch of Canada's first satellite-based content delivery network, offered by Quick Link Communications Ltd. (QLC), a Satellite ISP.

Availability and pricing
The base configuration of the SMR starts at $25,000, depending on individual service provider requirements.

SkyStream's SMR product family and other hardware and software components of SkyStream's data broadcasting solution, including the SkyStream Edge Media Router 2000 and SkyStream's zBand software are also avalable through SkyStream and its authorized distribution channels.

—End

 

Related articles:
	[Oct. 20, 2000]	TeleCrossing's Hybrid Satellite Offering
	[Oct. 20, 2000]	Edgix, Edge Services Provider
	[Nov. 30, 1999]	Content Delivery Networks: Introduction