SureWest Rolls Out BigBand SDV to Its Kansas City Subscribers

BigBand Networks, a provider of digital video networking solutions, announced that integrated communications provider SureWest (News - Alert) Communications has enabled its Kansas City subscriber base to receive the BigBand's Switched Digital Video (SDV) offering.

The SDV deployment supposedly optimizes and reclaims network bandwidth and offers the bandwidth capacity SureWest needs to expand its channel line-up and offer new services, without requiring SureWest to convert to an all-IP network or to rely on digital analog converters (DTAs).

According to BigBand, Switched digital video (SDV) is the fastest and most cost-effective way to provide more revenue-generating content and services. By sending specific programs only to those subscribers who request them, one can deliver more programming and other services without substantially re-allocating their bandwidth. Also the switch to SDV helps providers move closer to a fully addressable, on-demand architecture for even more monetization and profit.

SureWest wanted to scale to its rising subscriber demand for network capacity and new uses such as on demand movies and video streaming have added to that demand. The BigBand solution is stated to have all the necessary capabilities SureWest demands. By selecting SDV, SureWest is stated to have made a cost-effective investment in its multi-screen future and SDV can bridge the gap to IP now.

Officials with SureWest noted that BigBand’s SDV helps them enhance their network more cost effectively and without disrupting the service quality their customers expect. The solution supports their long-term vision of portability, where any content can be delivered to any device both inside and outside the home. In addition to meeting their needs for HD expansion, BigBand's SDV solution also helped them stay competitive and paved the way for them to support a broader base of connected devices, including PCs, mobile devices, IP set-top boxes and tablets.