BroadLogic and ZTE announce new approach for digital TV over EPON.(NEW PRODUCTS)

BroadLogic Network Technologies Inc., a supplier of mixed-signal semiconductor solutions for global digital cable TV markets, and ZTE, a global supplier of telecommunication and network solutions, are teaming to offer and showcase a brand new solution that uses Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) infrastructure to deliver digital TV video-on-demand (VoD) and broadcast services to cable subscribers in multiple-dwelling units (MDUs). The integrated solution, which includes ZTE's C300 10G optical line terminal (OLT), and BroadLogic's Internet Protocol to Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (IP-to-QAM) Node reference design, offers cable operators an economical way to provide VoD and broadcast services for high-density population areas such as high-rise buildings. It was demonstrated publicly for the first time during the China Content Broadcasting Network (CCBN) Exhibition, March 23-25, 2011.

10G EPON enables high-definition (HD) and standard-definition (SD) digital TV services to be delivered via an EPON-to-QAM gateway that takes advantage of EPON systems already in place for data services. This new approach consists of an EPON-to-QAM gateway housed in an outdoor enclosure supporting as many as 128 QAMs. It connects BroadLogic's high-density silicon-based QAM solution and a 10G EPON system from ZTE. The same EPON system can be used to offer VoD services cost-effectively. Other digital TV services, including linear and switched broadcast, also can be offered.

According to Richard Peske, VP of marketing at BroadLogic, "ZTE is a global leader in PON technology. By integrating a QAM interface with an EPON optical network unit, or ONU, a cable operator can easily offer digital TV services without building new video distribution networks. This is an attractive way to deliver VoD services to MDUs now, and easily add broadcast services when they are required."

"BroadLogic brings unique silicon solutions to an EPON-to-QAM gateway," said Mr. Yongxing Zhu, vice general manager of Fixed Networks Group at ZTE. "The 10G EPON-to-QAM gateway we are showing gives cable operators a low-cost, reliable way to provide high-quality digital TV."

The EPON-to-QAM demonstration at CCBN 2011 included:

- BroadLogic's IP-to-QAM full hardware and software reference design using the BL85000 TeraQAM chip;

- ZTE's ZXA10 C300 1G/10G EPON OLT;

- ZTE's ZXA10 F100 10G EPON ONU.

BroadLogic and ZTE also recently demonstrated a solution for delivering broadcast video over EPON for the North American market.