North State Communications Selects TANDBERG Television iPlex Encoding and Transcoding for New IPTV Headend

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Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:00am EDT

High density and superior picture quality video processing system to deliver
over 250 channels of SD and HD programming via MPEG-4 AVC
ATLANTA--(Business Wire)--
TANDBERG Television, part of the Ericsson group (NASDAQ:ERIC), today announced
its award-winning iPlex IPTV video processing platform has been selected by
North State Communications for its new IPTV headend. In order to maintain full
control of its content North State Communications elected to build a full
headend and receive television programming directly from broadcasters for MPEG-4
AVC encoding or transcoding. At launch, the TANDBERG headend will deliver over
250 channels of standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) programs to
North State subscribers. The complete MPEG-4 AVC IPTV solution yields
significant bandwidth savings by delivering content at the highest image quality
and the lowest possible bit rates. 

One of the nation's 20 largest communications companies, North State provides
services primarily in a 600-square-mile area located in the Piedmont Triad
Region of North Carolina in and around the communities of High Point,
Thomasville, Archdale, Randleman, Jamestown, Trinity and portions of Greensboro
and Kernersville. Services will be delivered from the new TANDBERG headend to
the North State subscriber base shortly. 50 of the channels delivered will be in
HD. 

"Control over the programming we offer our subscribers is extremely important to
us and that required us to deploy a full headend. We selected the TANDBERG
Television solution because of its superior picture quality, high density and
leading technology position among headends," said Royster Tucker III, President
& COO, North State Communications. 

The iPlex UltraCompression HD and SD IPTV headend is based on TANDBERG
Television's next-generation AVC platform and provides a step change in digital
video distribution. By combining a high density platform with enhanced MPEG-4
AVC encoding and transcoding technology, the iPlex leads the industry in picture
quality and video performance. A flexible video processing platform that offers
the industry's most complete IPTV headend solution, the TANDBERG iPlex includes
MPEG-2 SD encoding, MPEG-4 AVC HD and SD encoding, MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 transcoding,
MPEG-2 transrating, and picture-in-picture (PIP) service generation in a high
density, NEBS-certified, telco-designed chassis. 

"As operators seek to provide each subscriber with a more personalized
television experience, the solutions deployed must support the applications of
today and some that haven't been created yet," said Al Nuñez, President of the
Americas, TANDBERG Television. "The iPlex platform provides these operators with
a flexible telco-class solution that incorporates redundancy, high density and
scalability that's part of a complete IPTV solution." 

Dascom Systems Group of Woodbury, Minnesota is providing the design, equipment
specification, systems integration, and training to North State Communications
for its TANDBERG Television IPTV headend. 

About North State Communications

Headquartered in High Point, North Carolina, North State is one of the nation's
20 largest integrated communications companies, offering wireless, broadband
Internet, voice services, directory advertising, data and IP-based business
services and digital television services in the Piedmont Triad Region of North
Carolina. Visit www.northstate.net for more information. 

About Dascom Systems Group

Dascom Systems Group, LLC is an audio/video and IPTV systems integrator based in
Woodbury, Minnesota. Since 1995, Dascom has been providing customers in
corporate, education, medical, government, and telecommunications markets with
audio/video technology through distance education, video conferencing, and
headends. In the IPTV market, Dascom has more than 100 IPTV customers, ranging
from full headends to local insertion. Through superior integration and key
partnerships, Dascom has become the leading integrator of legacy and
next-generation IPTV systems in the industry. For more information on Dascom,
please visit www.dascom-systems.com

About TANDBERG Television

TANDBERG Television, part of the Ericsson group, delivers the multimedia
technology and expertise that is moving digital video forward. Whether it's
advanced compression systems, on-demand or content distribution, the company's
award-winning solutions are used by the world's leading broadcasters, operators
and programmers to deliver new viewer experiences and advertising opportunities.
With a broad suite of open, standards-based products, TANDBERG Television offers
the highest quality solutions for Digital TV, HDTV, VOD, and IPTV. For more
information, please visit www.tandbergtv.com

About Ericsson

Ericsson is the world's leading provider of technology and services to telecom
operators. The market leader in 2G and 3G mobile technologies, Ericsson supplies
communications services and manages networks that serve more than 250 million
subscribers. The company's portfolio comprises mobile and fixed network
infrastructure, and broadband and multimedia solutions for operators,
enterprises and developers. The Sony Ericsson joint venture provides consumers
with feature-rich personal mobile devices. 

Ericsson is advancing its vision of 'communication for all' through innovation,
technology, and sustainable business solutions. Working in 175 countries, more
than 70,000 employees generated revenue of USD 27 billion (SEK 209 billion) in
2008. Founded in 1876 and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Ericsson is listed
on OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm and NASDAQ 

For more information, visit www.ericsson.com or www.ericsson.mobi. 



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or
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ddanaher@ariesmm.com

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