BigBand Introduces Managed Adaptive Streaming for iPads and PCs at CableLabs® Winter Conference

Approach delivers better quality video and greater bandwidth efficiencies to help cable operators broaden and monetize services to IP-connected devices

CableLabs Winter Conference 2011

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--()--At the CableLabs® Winter Conference 2011, BigBand Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:BBND), a leader in digital video networking, will introduce an innovative hybrid approach to managing HTTP adaptive streaming traffic. The approach helps cable Multiple System Operators (MSOs) expand their broadcast TV and on-demand services to reach their subscribers’ IP-connected consumer electronic devices, such as the iPad®, tablets, netbooks, PCs, and gaming consoles. The solution is designed to efficiently manage and leverage the existing resources of a video delivery network and to enhance viewing experiences. It also improves bandwidth utilization and equalizes video quality across all services by leveraging a technique called "quality-based bandwidth allocation".

A significant portion of the network traffic to reach subscriber's unmanaged IP-connected devices is expected to be in the form of standard adaptive streaming over HTTP. However, this method does not allow efficient utilization of the resources of the video delivery network since a standard adaptive streaming session has no visibility to the other sessions sharing the same bandwidth. Alternatively, managing all video services together and adopting a hybrid view for adaptive streaming would incorporate video oriented aspects of session management and dynamic network resources allocation. This allows MSOs to monetize both their legacy video traffic as well as the traffic being consumed by these IP-connected devices with new IP targeted services.

"Managing HTTP adaptive streaming traffic results in significantly better results for bandwidth utilization and video quality as compared to other IP-video transport alternatives,” said Amit Eshet, Senior Director of Media Processing, BigBand Networks. "The spectrum dedicated to the delivery of video to set-top boxes can also be used for the delivery of video to IP devices in a 'bandwidth-free' manner that doesn’t degrade the legacy service or require massive CAPEX investments upfront. The net benefit to the cable operator is a smoother and more cost effective migration to IPTV."

BigBand will demonstrate how managed adaptive streaming outperforms standard adaptive streaming with regard to bandwidth utilization and video quality for various IP consumer electronic devices.

BigBand will also demonstrate the latest advances in its ultra dense QAM for the BigBand Media Services Platform (MSP), the BigBand MSP QAM. The platform-based approach combines high density with high availability and offers the ability to quickly add new applications and share bandwidth efficiently across multiple applications. Additionally, the company will demonstrate new services capabilities and revenue opportunities that can be enabled by BigBand’s IP-video solution, vIP PASS™.

The CableLabs Winter Conference 2011, February 27–March 2, 2011, is being held in the Marriott Marquis, Atlanta, Georgia.

About BigBand Networks

BigBand Networks, Inc. [NASDAQ: BBND] provides broadband service providers with innovative digital video networking solutions designed to make it easier to move, manage and monetize video. These solutions are based on BigBand's video-networking platforms that are built to enable efficient and reliable delivery across a wide range of services, including digital TV, high definition TV, advanced advertising, IPTV, video-on-demand and interactive TV. BigBand Networks has done business with more than 200 customers in North America, Asia and Europe -- including seven of the ten largest cable and telco service providers in North America. BigBand Networks is based in Redwood City, Calif., with offices worldwide. For additional information about the company, please call +1.650.995.5000, email info@bigbandnet.com or visit www.bigbandnet.com

CableLabs is a registered trademark of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. iPad is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. BigBand Networks’ brand and product names are service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of BigBand Networks, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. A product or technology demonstration at a CableLabs event does not represent a CableLabs endorsement of that product or technology.

This release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined under the U.S. Federal Securities Laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is subject to the safe harbors created by such laws. Forward-looking statements may relate to, but are not limited the functionality, programming potential and other potential benefits to be derived from the use of BigBand’s hybrid adaptive streaming, vIP PASS, MSP QAM and other solutions, the expectation of bandwidth savings and the anticipated prevention of the degradation of video quality. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations that involve a number of uncertainties and risks that may cause actual events or results to differ materially. Factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially include, among others, the following: rapid technological change that can adversely affect the demand for BigBand’s products, design flaws in BigBand’s vIP PASS, MSP QAM and other solutions, shifts in customer demand, shifts in strategic relationships, delays in BigBand’s ability to deliver or decisions to discontinue its products and services, or announcements by competitors. These and other risks may be detailed from time to time in BigBand’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which may be obtained from www.sec.gov. BigBand Networks is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information contained in our website is not incorporated by reference in, or made part of this press release.

Contacts

Aries MarketMasters
Dawn Danaher, +1-714-378-5841
Melissa Malley, +1-650-961-1989
BigBand@ariesmm.com

Release Summary

At the CableLabs® Winter Conference 2011, BigBand Networks will introduce an innovative hybrid approach to managing HTTP adaptive streaming traffic.

Contacts

Aries MarketMasters
Dawn Danaher, +1-714-378-5841
Melissa Malley, +1-650-961-1989
BigBand@ariesmm.com