Acterna Announces Addition of MPEG-4 Real Time Analysis to Its DTS Digital Broadcast Test Platform.

LAS VEGAS & GERMANTOWN, Md. -- MPEG-4 Feature Provides Real Time Analysis, Troubleshooting and Monitoring Benefits to Digital Video Service Providers and Network Element Manufacturers

Acterna today announced it has added real time MPEG-4 analysis capability to its digital broadcast test and troubleshooting platforms (DTS-330 and DTS-200), the industry's fastest, most flexible, and comprehensive digital network test and management solution. Now able to handle MPEG-4 in addition to its prior capabilities of testing MPEG-2, DVB, and ATSC standards, Acterna's DTS product suite will be on display at NAB, April 17-20, Las Vegas, Booth # SU10043 in South Hall 3.

For equipment validation and acceptance testing, the DTS-330 and DTS-200 verify system performance by pinpointing and resolving equipment and system failures, and addressing interoperability issues while complying with the complex requirements of MPEG-2, DVB, and ATSC standards. The DTS-330 and DTS-200 are able to support several different combinations of inputs and outputs, such as QPSK, ASI, full bandwidth GigE, SMPTE-310, DHEI, QAM, COFDM and 8VSB.

The addition of MPEG-4 real time analysis is a critical feature for broadcasters deploying new and advanced compression technology in their digital networks. Since MPEG-4 provides the means for more efficient use of bandwidth, some operators are planning to use it to offer digital video services in networks that could not support the bandwidth requirements of video. Other uses include support for the deployment of value added services like high-definition television.

"We are excited to introduce the MPEG-4 feature to our popular DTS product line, making a more robust single-platform test set that provides even more application modules easily configured to fit multiple test scenarios for NEMs, terrestrial broadcasters, system integrators, cable operators, and telecommunications companies," said Sudeep Bose, product marketing manager of Acterna's DTS Product Line. "The addition of real time MPEG-4 analysis to the popular DTS line of products provides our customers with the ability to use the same test instrument to analyze, troubleshoot and monitor their entire network regardless of the variety of codecs being used. It also ensures reliability and efficiency when deploying new services and maintaining the highest level of QoS."

The DTS-330 and DTS-200's powerful stream creation, generation, and analysis tools combine to provide the complete solution for several test and management environments, including:

--R&D provides rigorous, aggressive design validation that enables multiplexer, set-top box, and digital TV manufacturers to reach the market faster and guarantee system quality;

--Deployment trials assist in testing leading-edge technologies such as digital terrestrial TV, video on demand, digital ad insertion, multimedia interactive applications, among others;

--System installation allows integrators to solve configuration, inter-working, and performance issues prior to system acceptance and turn-up of the service;

--Network operation generates base lining reports and monitors quality of service in both contribution and distribution networks.

DTS users can also troubleshoot their digital video networks via the platform's application modules which include: an analyzer for continuous, detailed, real-time analysis of all transport stream content and statistics including PIDs, PCR/PTS timing, programs/channels, conditional access, and PSI/SI/PSIP tables and descriptors; a multiplexer for continuous real-time transport stream creation; and a generator for real-time transport stream recording and play out.

For cable and broadcast industries, Acterna is among the first to introduce an MPEG analyzer (critical to successful deployment of broadcast services), to develop test tools to verify digital broadcast signals, and one of the only test and network management solutions provider with the expertise to truly support the entire lifecycle of a digital services deployment and continued maintenance - ensuring accuracy, quality and cost efficiency. Acterna also has an equally strong record supporting telecommunications companies delivering broadcast and broadband-related services.

About Acterna

Acterna is the world's largest provider of communications test solutions for telecommunications and cable network operators. A trusted communications test partner for more than eight decades, Acterna offers an unmatched portfolio of award-winning instruments, systems, software, and services that help its customers reduce network costs while improving performance and reliability. Headquartered in Germantown, Md. -- with European and Asia-Pacific operations based in Eningen, Germany, and Hong Kong -- Acterna serves nearly every major communications service provider and equipment manufacturer around the world through a skilled sales and support organization in 31 countries.

All Acterna company or product names mentioned in this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of Acterna Inc. or one of its subsidiary companies.