SureWest Set to Become First Broadband Service Provider in U.S. to Offer HDTV Over an IP Network25 October 2005
Leading independenttelecommunications holding company SureWest Communications (Nasdaq: SURW)continues to lead the market in broadband video technology as it prepares tobecome the first company in the United States to offer High Definition TV(HDTV) commercially over its Internet Protocol (IP)-based fiber-to-the-premise(FTTP) network. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050908/SFSUREWESTLOGO ) Beginning October 25, 2005, the Roseville, CA-based company will take itsHDTV over IP beta testing out of the lab environment and into a broaderproduction environment. This full-service round of testing will be the finalstage leading up to SureWest's commercial HDTV deployment. "Using IP technology over our fiber-optic network offers the potential forincreased clarity to the HD experience and will allow SureWest to offer avariety of emerging video products, while maintaining the area's fastesthigh-speed Internet service," says Bill DeMuth, SureWest's vice president andchief technology officer. "The IP FTTP service delivery model providesflexibility and abundant cost-effective bandwidth to deliver voice and dataservices, as well as a host of interactive television capabilities with IPTV. "This is more of what people are looking for from their televisions and weare excited to be at the forefront of this movement." As part of its broadband growth strategy, SureWest has built an FTTPnetwork throughout the Sacramento, CA region, passing more than 80,000marketable homes. SureWest currently expects to launch HDTV over IPcommercially in November 2005. SureWest's fiber network currently provides anindustry-leading speed of up to 10 megabits per second (Mbps) high-speedInternet service (both downloading and uploading), with the option to doublethat speed up to 20 Mbps. SureWest enhanced its ability to deliver advanced IP video service over afiber network with a Cisco(R) (Nasdaq: CSCO) IP Next-Generation Network (IPNGN) featuring Cisco Catalyst(R) 4510 and Catalyst 6509 switches that helpenable SureWest to deliver high speeds based on the 100 Mbps standardbi-directional to its residential customers. "It's gratifying to work with a company like SureWest, a firm thatcontinues to search for new ways to offer customers leading-edge servicesthrough its IP network," said Jeff Spagnola, vice president of serviceprovider marketing, Cisco. "Customers are increasingly demanding more advancedservices, and we are committed to working with providers like SureWest toenable video/IPTV networks that scale with a lower total cost of ownership andthat have unparalleled video-application linkages for a better userexperience." About SureWest With more than 90 years in Northern California, SureWest and its family ofcompanies together provide a wide variety of highly reliable advancedcommunications products and services. SureWest provides digital TV, fiberoptics, PCS wireless, DSL, high-speed Internet access, data transport, localand long distance telephone service, and directories with the higheststandards of customer care. For more information, visit the SureWest web siteat http://www.surewest.com. Safe Harbor Statement Statements made in this news release that are not historical facts areforward-looking statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisionsof the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, theseforward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as may,will, should, expect, plan, anticipate, or project or the negative of thosewords or other comparable words. We undertake no obligation to update orrevise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,future events or otherwise. Such forward-looking statements are subject to anumber of risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause the company'sactual results to differ from those projected in such forward-lookingstatements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those setforth in the forward- looking statements include, but are not limited to:advances in telecommunications technology, changes in the telecommunicationsregulatory environment, changes in the financial stability of othertelecommunications providers who are customers of the company, changes incompetition in markets in which the company operates, adverse circumstancesaffecting the economy in California in general, and in the Sacramento,California Metropolitan area in particular, the availability of futurefinancing, changes in the demand for services and products, new product andservice development and introductions, pending and future litigation, theinternal control issues identified by the company, and unanticipated changesin the growth of the company's emerging businesses, including the wireless,Internet, video and Competitive Local Exchange Carrier operating entities. Contact: Ron Rogers Public Relations Manager 916-746-3123 r.rogers@surewest.comAvailable Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), clickappropriate link.Bill DeMuthhttp://profnet.prnewswire.com/ud_public.jsp?userid=10002028Scott Barberhttp://profnet.prnewswire.com/ud_public.jsp?userid=10002030
Source: PR Newswire
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