The new pan-European switched video services show for the first time how the new generation of high capacity, optical networks will be
used.
``This is a break through´´, says Goran Forslund, Vice President Business Development, Broadband Products at Carrier1. ``These new
optical video services will open entirely new possibilities for the TV/media industry and enhance the way it operates. It can be used to
transfer video and films between locations in a city, within a country or across Europe. The new services offer possibilities to create
virtual studios and manage them from a central point. Equipment and content can be used and processed, operated and moved as if they
were physically in one location. It means that production resources can be used in more efficient ways with new opportunities for cost
savings, shorter times to market, faster production and a new dimension of quality.´´
Carrier1 estimates that the current market for video transmission in Europe is a billion-dollar market per year and will grow when the
industry adopts new ways of working. The vast majority of pan-European transmission is handled by satellite services, which is more
expensive and provide significantly less bandwidth capability and lower quality.
These entirely new possibilities for the TV/media industry are demonstrated at the IBC2000 in Amsterdam, September 8-12.
- The Institut fur Rundfunktechnik (IRT) is demonstrating advanced
ATM-based services, including real time applications at speeds of
270 Mbps between the IRT stand and an IRT studio in Munich using the
Carrier1 pan-European fibre network.
- Carrier1 and Net Insight AB (Stockholm Stock Exchange: NETI-B) are
demonstrating the Dynamic synchronous Transfer Mode (DTM) switching
technology. The DTM-based Wide Media Network services include
multiple formats ranging from streaming IP, various MPEG bandwidths
to uncompressed 270 Mbps studio quality video in ITU-R BT.601
format.
Carrier1 and Net Insight also announce today that they have signed a letter of intent, to evaluate the conditions for a joint penetration
of the TV/media market.
These new pan-European switched video services will offer 100% security, SDI studio quality, low delays, use 2.5 Gbps wavelength
capacity in Carrier1´s pan-European fibre network, access fibre on its city rings, DTM technology switching and CPE equipment from Net
Insight AB.
``Carrier1 sees significant benefits in working with Net Insight,´´ says Stig Johansson, President and CEO of Carrier1. ``Together we will
enhance our capabilities to accelerate the delivery of high capacity next-generation services to the TV/media market.´´ G``ran Forslund
at Carrier1, continued: ´´Net Insight AB with its DTM technology uniquely addresses the specific high speed broadband requirements of the
TV/media industry starting in the high speed end. The DTM technology is an excellent complement to our fibre and DWDM platform. DTM
will enable Carrier1 to deliver high-end video services with a 100% quality guarantee, both for private networks and for high capacity
``Extranet´´, business-to-business applications.``
``Carrier1´s robust pan-European network and very competitive market approach, when combined with our technology which is optimized
for carrying real-time critical services like streaming video, makes for a great opportunity for both of our companies,´´ says Mr. Bengt
Olsson, CEO of Net Insight.
Carrier1´s Wide Media Network Service is currently expected to be operational by Q2/2001 in 10-20 major cities in Europe. Carrier1 will
deliver fibre access to customer premises and customers will benefit from the 20 fibre city rings Carrier1 intends to implement during the
next 18 months, and of which 6 city rings are currently under construction. Carrier1 will also offer hosting of digital media archives in the
20 large scale data centres that are planned to be built by its joint venture partner Digiplex, S.A., and of which 8 are currently being
built.
``This is a significant step in a strategic evolution of Carrier1´´, says Stig Johansson, President and CEO. ``Industry analysts estimate
that video and other digital content transfers will consume up to 90% of network capacity five years from now. Carrier1 now shows that
in addition to IP media streaming, we also intend to be a major player in providing high quality broadband solutions to the video
communication segment of the media industry.´´
For further information, please contact:
Net Insight, Magnus Stålbrandt, VP International Sales:
+46 705 282128,
magnus.stalbrandt@netinsight.net
Carrier 1, Göran Forslund, Vice President, Business Development, Broadband Products:
+41 1297 2600,
goran.forslund@carrier1.com
About Carrier1
Carrier1 International S.A. is a pan-European facilities- based provider of end-to-end Internet, voice, bandwidth, data center, and access
solutions. Carrier1 provides its clients with carrier-grade transport and network solutions as well as end-user ready value added services.
Carrier1 customers brand and market these solutions and services to their respective end-users.
The Carrier1 pan-European inter-city fibre network connects 12 countries and currently spans over approximately 11 000 route kilometres
connecting our points-of-presence in over 20 European cities. Carrier1 is operational in all 12 countries and has secured all the necessary
interconnects and operational licenses that allow it to provide network solutions and end-user ready value added services. Carrier1 is also
constructing 6 city ring fibre networks and plans to build/acquire at least another 14 city ring fibre networks. Through its investment in
the joint venture Digiplex, Carrier1 is building 8 full-service data center facilities and plans to build at least another 12 data center
facilities.
Carrier1´s principal management services subsidiary is located in Zurich, Switzerland. Carrier1 is listed on the Neuer Market in Frankfurt
under the ticker symbol ``CJN´´ and on the NASDAQ in New York under the ticker symbol ``CONE´´.
About Net Insight
Net Insight develops and markets network switches for fiber- optic broadband networks. Net Insights solutions allow operators to offer
advanced real-time services such as studio quality video and interactive Internet along with traditional telephony and data services.
These services are provided over one single infrastructure in a simple and cost efficient manner. Net Insight employs around 110 people in
Sweden and the US. The company is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ``NETI-B´´.