MUMBAI: Asia Netcom, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinese telecommunications service provider China Netcom, will play a part in an experiment to demonstrate the ability of the next-generation Internet to enable high-quality video communications worldwide.
The experiment is being spearheaded by Widely Integrated Distributed Environment (Wide) Project. The consortium is working on practical research and development of Internet-related technologies.
Asia Netcom will set up high-quality video links between Amsterdam, Aichi and Beijing. The event is a part of the finale of the 2005 World Expo which will take place in Japan. It will feature a live video panel discussion on Living on the Earth by students from each country.
Asia Netcom will provide an end-to-end IPv6 link between Tokyo and Beijing using capacity on its own subsea network and through a 155Mbps circuit between Hong Kong and Beijing from its parent, China Netcom. The link will be one of the first live trials of transporting broadcast-quality video over an IPv6 infrastructure between China and Japan.
Asia Netcom Japan COO Richard Carden says, "The Internet has changed the way we live, but the underlying technology that enables it is reaching its limitations. There is no question that IPv6 is the next generation platform to take the Internet beyond its current limitations, both for its ability to support ubiquitous coverage of billions and billions of different devices. It will also help in driving up performance, efficiency and security of the Internet.''
Asia Netcom claims to be one of the first operators in the Asian region to launch commercial IPv6-based services and is offering an end-to-end IPv6 video streaming service with partner, NEC.
Carden adds, "This project also highlights our ability to deliver high speed, real-time video connections between Japan and China. With
the Beijing Olympics just around the corner, this solution now offers broadcasters an alternative to traditional leased line and satellite-based transport.''
Asia Netcom claims to have successfully trialed the transmission of HDTV content over its IP backbone in Japan with CATV operator, Miyagi Networks and equipment maker, Frontiers early this year. The 700km trial resulted in no loss of quality or delay of the content. Meanwhile, Asia Netcom is also working with Japanese broadcast partners in trialing the transport of HDTV content between Japan and Beijing.
Asia Netcom will also extend its pan-Asia submarine cable system, EAC into China with a cable landing in the Northern Chinese city of Qingdao. The new cable link will shorten the distance between Japan and China and result in latency improvements of up to 40 per cent between the two markets.
Asia Netcom operates an extensive telecommunications network infrastructure in the Asia Pacific region, including a privately-owned
subsea cable system, EAC, as well as extensive terrestrial backhauls and telehouses in all key Asian markets. Leveraging these strategic assets, Asia Netcom provides a portfolio of city-to-city connectivity, data communications and IP-based solutions and services to enterprise, ISP and carrier customers in the Asia Pacific region.
