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Mexican cable Multiple System Operator (MSO) Cablemás is reportedly using the ARRIS C4 CMTS and Touchstone (News - Alert) E-MTAs to expand its VoIP service as part of its new triple play package, network equipment maker ARRIS announced today.

Cablemas is already using ARRIS’ technology to provide VoIP to 30,000 customers in major cities including Cuernavaca and Tijuana. The service provider is now gearing up to expand its services into additional cities where it now has franchises.

Cablemás, which competes with the incumbent national telco Telmex, is reportedly one of the few MSOs in Mexico offering a triple play package of voice, video and data.

Arnoldo Meiselmann, COO of Cablemás, said in a press release that ARRIS offers the “global technical expertise, scale and support” to help the provider expand its VoIP service and deploy new services in the future.

“In addition, ARRIS offers a world-class CMTS platform,” he said. “We tested a number of systems and the C4 was unmatched in terms of scalability, density, RF redundancy and other critical carrier-class features. We look forward to leveraging the ARRIS platform to cost-effectively deliver the next level of digital telephone services to our customers.”

“We are delighted to expand our excellent and long-standing relationship with Cablemas,” said ARRIS Sr. Vice President, Mexico/Central America Sales, George Fletcher. “Triple play service deployment with the necessary accompanying quality of service and availability is rapidly growing in Mexico and throughout the Latin American market. ARRIS is committed to providing the region's cable operators with the best solutions, service and technical support for which we are known.”

ARRIS made news on TMCnet in January when it announced that it was purchasing IPTV and digital video equipment maker Tandberg (News - Alert) Television for approximately US $1.2 billion in a stock-cash transaction. However, the deal, which was expected to be completed in 2Q2007, fell through when ARRIS was out-bid by Ericsson (News - Alert), which made a higher competing offer that the board of directors of Tandberg Television subsequently endorsed. Tandberg Television then terminated the transaction agreement with ARRIS.

Hade the deal gone through, ARRIS would have become one of the largest network equipment providers in the world.

For more information, visit www.arrisi.com.

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Patrick Barnard is Assignment Editor for TMCnet and a columnist covering the telecom industry. To see more of his articles, please visit Patrick Barnard’s columnist page.