September 19, 2006

Japan's Largest Cable Operator Selects LongBoard Platform to Deliver FMC

By Patrick Barnard, TMCnet Associate Editor

Japanese cable operator Jupiter Telecommunications has reportedly selected LongBoard’s MultiMedia Application Platform to deliver a Fixed Mobile Convergence (News - Alert) (FMC) service over its network.

Once it is deployed, the platform will give customers with dual mode cellular/PHS and WiFi (News - Alert) phones the ability to make and receive calls over either network. Jupiter is planning to conduct a trial of the platform in October. If it meets its expectations, it will be the first FMC service for the residential market in Japan - and potentially one of the largest FMC deployments in the world.

According to a press release, Jupiter’s cable network currently serves 2.2 million subscribers.

The LongBoard’s MultiMedia Application Platform is a carrier-grade IMS-compatible converged services platform. Using SIP standard software, the platform enables seamless handover of calls between fixed and mobile networks using one telephone number.

LongBoard claims its software is fully 3GPP IMS compliant and is being currently trialed with several other operators.

Commuture Corporation, a leading telecommunications engineering company headquartered in Japan, will assist in the project by providing systems integration services and in-country Tier 1 technical support.

For more information, visit www.longboard.com.

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Patrick Barnard is Associate Editor for TMCnet and a columnist covering the telecom industry. To see more of his articles, please visit Patrick Barnard’s columnist page.

(source: http://ipcommunications.tmcnet.com/hot-topics/wireless/articles/2715-japans-largest-cable-operator-selects-longboard-platform-deliver.htm)