Contact Information: Press Contact (Italy): Roberta Natalicchio Cisco Systems +39 3483993946 rnatalic@cisco.com Press Contact (Europe): JoAnne Hughes Cisco Systems +44 (0)20 8824 0314 joahughe@cisco.com Analyst Contact: Michal Halama Cisco Systems +44 (0)20 8824 0511 mhalama@cisco.com Investor Relations Contact: Andreas Goldau Cisco Systems +44 (0)20 8824 8209 agoldau@cisco.com
RAI Delivers Video Content to Global Online Audience With Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System
| Source: Cisco
MILAN, ITALY--(Marketwire - September 10, 2007) - Cisco® (NASDAQ : CSCO ) announced today that
Radiotelevisione Italiana S.p.A. (RAI), the Italian public service
broadcaster, has deployed the Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System as the
high-performance interconnect between its video Internet Protocol
Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) and the Milan Internet Exchange (MIX). The
RAI Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department started
distribution of video traffic to carriers via MIX in July following the
successful deployment of the CRS-1 system by system integration partner,
IBM Global Technology Services. The new network will enable RAI to offer a
rich variety of television content to customers over the Web.
RAI is developing the video IP NGN as an open and highly secure platform to
support the growing demand for broadband entertainment services and its
strategic development of new IP-based platforms for the distribution of
digital multimedia content. As a public service broadcaster, RAI has a
charter to guarantee access to its program content for Italian citizens via
PCs at home and abroad. The current investment will extend RAI TV content
to a global audience by making video available at optimal cost. The
popularity of web TV is growing in Italy with the RAI web portal,
www.rai.tv, receiving 76 million page views per month, representing
approximately 14 percent growth year-on-year.
The RAI IP NGN already uses Cisco 12000 Series Routers, and building on the
success of that platform, RAI selected the CRS-1 routing system to provide
the 2.5 gigabits-per-second point of interconnection with the MIX. The
CRS-1 system was considered the right choice to meet RAI's needs for
scalability and realiability, and to be particularly suited to routing the
high volume of video traffic that will be flowing through the
interconnection point.
"RAI is leading the broadcasting sector in embracing the IP NGN to provide
innovative solutions for the broadband entertainment market," said Stefano
Venturi, chief executive of Cisco Italy and vice president of Cisco.
"Today's announcement is another significant proof point that the
combination of IPTV and Web TV is driving the transformation of the network
in all segments."
About RAI S.p.A.
RAI is the public broadcaster for radio and TV programmes in Italy.
RAI has maintained the leadership position in 2006 with a 45% of daily
share and more than 44% in the prime time shift. RAI transmits TV on three
national channels (more than 24,000 TV hours), twelve satellite channels
(five of them are pay channels, five are free channels on Sky platform and
two channels are devoted to keep in contact the Italian people outside
Italy); eight channels are distributed on the DTT platform with interactive
facilities.
RAI provides also one national Teletext and 20 regional Teletext. On
Internet RAI distributes a TV channel, fully dedicated to the news 24 hours
per day and 7 days per week, named Rainews24.
RAI provides more than 80,000 hours on the radio networks with three
national channels. Furthermore, two channels are specifically devoted to
the activities of the Italian Parliament and to the people travelling on
the highways. In the on air radio are included also special programs for
the language minorities, specific programs for the Italian people in the
world and the fixed wire radio channel.
RAI Group includes the following Subsidiary Companies: RaiSat (satellite
channels), Rai Sipra (advertising activities), RaiCorporation (for the
American markets), RaiTrade (distribution, marketing and merchandising of
RAI products), RaiWay (Trasmission and Broadcasting Operations), RaiCinema
(dealing in Cinema production and purchasing), Rai Net ( Internet
activities), RaiClick (joint venture on IPTV with E-Biscom).
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