Ruckus Wireless, the innovator of smart Wi-Fi technology, announced
that
Maxisat Ltd., a leading Finnish triple play provider, has selected the
Ruckus Wireless smart Wi-Fi system to solve the growing problem of how to
reliably distribute digital voice, video and data services throughout
subscriber homes.
The Ruckus MediaFlex system is an advanced in-home multimedia solution
and the first developed to enable the reliable transmission of digital
multimedia content using standard 802.11g Wi-Fi technology.
Maxisat has begun offering the Ruckus MediaFlex smart Wi-Fi system to
thousands of broadband customers in Finland. With the Ruckus system,
Maxisat subscribers can now enjoy rich multimedia services anywhere in
their home over a single, robust Wi-Fi network. Maxisat customers will also
benefit from lower installation costs, quicker installation times, and the
elimination of disruptive and cumbersome cabling through their homes.
"With Wi-Fi, consumers have now tasted freedom from wires and want that
freedom extended to all their multimedia services," said Jari-Pekka
Hela-Aro, IPTV development manager for Maxisat. "Ruckus has now made this
possible by making Wi-Fi predictable enough to virtually guarantee certain
levels of capacity to any corner of the home. This is precisely what
carriers and their customers have been waiting for."
Recognized as the second broadband provider to offer IPTV services in
Europe (1999), Maxisat is now bundling the Ruckus MediaFlex system as an
option with its Maxinetti Multi and Maxinetti Multi Pro services. Maxisat
offers over 40 channels of IPTV, video on demand (VoD), voice over IP
(VoIP) and Internet access at 8 Mbps and 24 Mbps over ADSL and ADSL 2+
connections to its subscribers in Finland.
The basic package, Maxinetti Multi, includes an 8 Mbps broadband
connection, 19 IPTV channels, VoD service, Internet access and VoIP service
for euro 49.80. Maxisat's premium package, Maxinetti Multi Pro, includes a
24 Mbps broadband connection, 29 IPTV channels, VoD service, Internet
access and VoIP service for euro 75.90. Both packages include a four-port
ADSL modem, one set top box and installation. The installation of
additional TVs costs euro 50 per hour and takes between one to two hours
per TV.
Maxisat subscribers have the option of purchasing the Ruckus MediaFlex
system at a flat rate or entering into a longer-term agreement that
includes leasing to own the MediaFlex router and adapter on a monthly
basis.
"There's no question that a world without wires is what people want IF
they can get it," said Rob Mustarde, VP of EMEA for Ruckus Wireless.
"Leading broadband providers, like Maxisat, are quickly recognizing that
making Wi-Fi predictable and stable enough to run video-grade services is
the ideal solution to the last 25 meter triple play problem. We're proving
that this is now more than just possible, it's probable."
Broadband providers around the world are embracing the Internet
Protocol (IP) and IP networking to offer a range of innovative new voice,
video and data services to consumers. While delivering these new services
opens the door to new revenue sources and economies of scale for providers
as well as more choices for consumers, new problems arise when trying to
access or distribute these services around the home. Consequently,
providers and consumers now must construct costly, complex and cumbersome
computer networks in the home to move IP-based multimedia content around.
Ruckus Wireless has made significant technology advances using adaptive
RF techniques, smart antenna arrays and quality of service engineering that
enable, for the first time, the distribution of delay-sensitive traffic,
such as real-time digital video, over standard Wi-Fi. Heretofore, this has
not been possible using conventional consumer-grade Wi-Fi technology
designed primarily for data applications.