At the TelcoTV conference in San Diego, Nortel Networks launched an IPTV solution based on best-of-breed products from a range of providers.

The Nortel end-to-end ecosystem for internet protocol television includes: middleware from Minerva Networks and Orca Interactive; video-on-demand from Kasenna and BitBand; content security from Irdeto; encoders from Harmonic and Optibase; advert insertion from Terayon, a browser interface from Espial; and set-top boxes from Amino.

The Canadian communications equipment company Nortel will provide and support the end-to-end solution, which follows extensive testing in its IPTV lab in Ottawa.

“By using a Nortel solution with our ecosystem partners, service providers can benefit from a complete solution that has been extensively tested to help ensure high levels of end-to-end reliability, security, and cross-solution management,” said Walt Megura, general manager for broadband networks at Nortel.

While some telcos are opting for end-to-end solutions from industry heavyweights such as Microsoft and Alcatel, or Siemens, a number of smaller third-party providers are concentrating on specific areas of functionality. In recommending a range of best-in-class components, Nortel is aiming to simplify the challenge of integrating these into a coherent solution.

www.nortel.com