Big Band Networks (bbnd)

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BigBand Networks Ships Modular CMTS Based on CableLabs(R) Specification
Monday March 26, 8:01 am ET
Netherlands' Multikabel Deploys BigBand's Cuda CMTS Platform with Support for M-CMTS and DOCSIS(R) 3.0 Downstream Channel Bonding


REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BigBand Networks, Inc., (NASDAQ:BBND - News), today announced that it has supplied its modular cable modem termination system (M-CMTS) to Dutch cable operator Multikabel. BigBand Networks believes that it is the first equipment vendor in the world to ship M-CMTS based on the CableLabs® specification. BigBand's M-CMTS solution utilizes DOCSIS®3.0 downstream channel bonding, a standards-based way to significantly increase the rate at which information travels to cable modems, and substantially lower the cost of providing cable modem service. Multikabel's deployment coincides with the release of BigBand's Cuda® 7.0 software that operates the Cuda CMTS platform and supports M-CMTS. Unlike CMTS products that support proprietary wideband channel bonding techniques meant to interoperate with specific modems, BigBand's Cuda supports both DOCSIS 3.0 channel bonding and DOCSIS 2.0 modems on the same channels.
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"BigBand's M-CMTS changes the economics of broadband delivery, making it far more affordable to increase access speeds," said Stefan van Dijk, manager of network technology at Multikabel. "Other vendors have taken proprietary approaches to channel bonding, but CableLabs and EuroCableLabs® have provided an excellent, standards-based roadmap to increase speeds and lower costs, and BigBand Networks has wisely pursued that strategy. BigBand's combination of DOCSIS 3.0 downstream channel bonding and M-CMTS seems to be an economical way to increase access speeds, and also provides a straightforward migration path to full DOCSIS 3.0 support. Being first to deliver an M-CMTS solution to simultaneously offer high-speed DOCSIS 3.0 downstream access and reduce the cost of bandwidth for our existing DOCSIS 2.0 modem installed base is a significant advantage for BigBand Networks."

Modular-CMTS addresses operators' needs to increase the bandwidth they make available to subscribers, and lower the costs associated with providing additional bandwidth. New applications, including online video, place-shifting technologies, wireless networks and online gaming are increasing subscribers' demand for Internet bandwidth, but service provider competition is causing broadband prices to fall. According to a December report by Point Topic research, the average price of cable modem service worldwide fell to $29.50 per month in September 2006, down from approximately $38 in June 2004. By allowing operators to increase access speeds at a fraction of the capital cost of integrated CMTS, BigBand's M-CMTS solution is designed to make it profitable for operators to provide faster cable modem services at lower prices, and support video-over-DOCSIS and other advanced, high-bandwidth applications.

BigBand's M-CMTS solution achieves its capacity increase by migrating functionality traditionally performed by the CMTS onto a less expensive edge quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) platform. BigBand's Cuda CMTS processes IP packets destined for subscribers, while BigBand's edqe QAM delivers these packets to subscribers using RF QAM signaling, a delivery method that is more efficient and economical than leveraging an integrated CMTS for both functions.

"BigBand's M-CMTS solution simultaneously delivers customers significant capacity improvements and significant cost-savings," said John Holobinko, vice president and general manager of BigBand Networks' cable IP business unit. "BigBand's M-CMTS solution meets operators' short term needs to increase speeds and lower costs, and also meets operators' longer-term desire to migrate to full DOCSIS 3.0 support without obsoleting existing DOCSIS modems and equipment."

BigBand Networks' M-CMTS solution has been made available to operators in North America, Europe and Asia as part of an early access program (EAP) designed to speed the availability of M-CMTS to market. For additional information about BigBand's M-CMTS, please visit http://www.bigbandnet.com/products/sol_mcmts.php.

About BigBand Networks

BigBand Networks, Inc., (NASDAQ:BBND - News), is a leading provider of broadband multimedia infrastructure for video, voice and data. The company's solutions are designed to process, optimize, and deliver services such as broadband Internet, VoIP, digital broadcast television, HDTV, transport of high quality video, local advertising, VOD, interactive TV and IPTV across coaxial cable, fiber or copper. Service providers use BigBand Networks' platforms to cost-effectively expand revenue-generating offerings of rich content and advanced interactive services. Customers include six of the ten largest service providers in the U.S., and leading service providers in North America, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Founded in 1998, BigBand Networks is based in Redwood City, Calif., with offices worldwide. For more information, please call 650-995-5000, email [e-mail] or visit www.bigbandnet.com.

Cuda and all other BigBand Networks brand and product names are service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of BigBand Networks, Inc. in the United States and other countries. CableLabs and DOCSIS are trademarks of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined under the U.S. Federal Securities Laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is subject to the safe harbors created by such laws. Forward-looking statements may relate to, but are not limited to, the features available in, and the potential benefits to be derived from, BigBand Networks' Cuda product and M-CMTS solution, and market acceptance of such product or solution. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations that involve a number of uncertainties and risks that may cause actual events or results to differ materially. Factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially include, among others, the following: rapid technological change that can adversely affect the demand for BigBand's products, shifts in customer demand, shifts in strategic relationships, delays in BigBand's ability to deliver its products and services, or announcements by competitors. These and other risks may be detailed from time to time in BigBand's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which may be obtained from www.sec.gov. BigBand Networks is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information contained in our website is not incorporated by reference in, or made part of this press release.



Contact:
BigBand Networks
Jonathan Bass, [phone]
[e-mail]
or
Cohn & Wolfe
Brian Baumley, [phone]
[e-mail]

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