RAI Delivers Video Content to Global Online Audience With Cisco CRS-1
Carrier Routing System
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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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
