Deutsche Telekom and Cisco switch on IPTV

T-Online, a division of Deutsche Telekom, is to team up with Cisco Systems to deliver a converged data, voice and video triple-play service over its T-Com broadband network.

The T-Home network is based on Cisco's IP Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture and is delivered with Cisco IP set-top boxes supporting the Microsoft TV IPTV Edition software platform.

T-Home will make the service available to customers in Germany, France and Spain in the second half of 2006.

"Our objective is to offer customers a convenient plug-and-play solution that can be set up and operated quickly and easily," said Kai-Uwe Ricke, chairman of Deutsche Telekom.

T-Com's video delivery network is based on the Cisco IP NGN architecture and incorporates Cisco 12000 Series routers at the provider edge, Cisco 10008 Series routers as broadband remote access server platforms and Cisco Catalyst 6509 Series switches.

T-Home is delivered through a Cisco set-top box from the KiSS series called the T-Home X 300T Media Receiver which is one of the first to support Microsoft IPTV Edition. Cisco acquired KiSS Technology in September 2005.

The T-Home X 300T Media Receiver enables high-definition (HD) IPTV and features personal video recorder functionality.

An 80GB hard disk stores up to 70 hours of programming with time shifting capabilities that enable users to record preset programmes, and even interrupt running programmes and continue them later.

The T-Home X 300T supports the Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) standard and features a dual DVB-T tuner which can be controlled remotely over the internet.

It is HD-capable via an HDMI interface and offers Ethernet and Scart ports for additional connectivity and functionality.