IBM AND SES MULTIMEDIA SIGN CONTRACT TO OFFER IP MULTICAST SOLUTIONS TO THE B2B MARKET
IBM and SES Multimedia announce the signature of an agreement to jointly develop IP-based broadband solutions for the B2B market. Distribution will be done using the ASTRA-NET multicast services. According to the terms of the agreement, IBM Global Services will offer consulting services developing turn-key architectures for the deployment and management of IT solutions, while ASTRA-NET, the broadband IP satellite network, will handle the multicast transmissions and secure data delivery to the corporate users, thanks to the intercontinental coverage of its satellite networks.
This partnership provides an end-to-end solution to corporations and SMEs, for the first time in Europe, making use of the entire value chain required by this market. IBM intends to get familiar with the ASTRA-NET broadband services, using these internally for different applications, in particular for distance learning and training.
The services on offer respond to the growing need of companies to communicate and interact simultaneously and at broadband speeds with large audiences, (shareholders, customers, employees, distribution networks, etc.) deploying multimedia services to multiple devices (PC, TV, organisers, etc.).
"The combination of our expertise in multipoint communication coupled with that of IBM in the development of computer and IT-solutions projects, will enable us jointly to meet all customer requirements and respond to the growing demand from the broadcast/multicast market", comments Christian Schock, Director General of SES Multimedia.
"The agreement with Société Européenne de Satellites, one of the premier satellite operators, will enable us to generally extend the range of services we provide. In particular for e-business, e-learning, B2E (business to employee) solutions as well as for other e-commerce and extranet applications which are ideally suited for IP multicasting", underlines Dominique Cerutti, Director General of IBM Global Services.
Press contacts:
Dominique Le Lann
IBM Global Services
Tel: +33 (0) 1 49 05 73 87
E-Mail:dlelann@fr.ibm.comHarald Melzer
SES Multimedia SA
Tel: +352 71 98 98 7119
E-Mail: HMelze@astra-net.com
About SES Multimedia S.A.:
SES Multimedia S.A, owned 100 % by SES, operates ASTRA-NET, the open standards-based broadband satellite multimedia and data distribution platform. Today, ASTRA-NET successfully provides access solutions for corporate and mass-market IP multicast applications via the ASTRA satellites right across Europe. ASTRA-NET enables content- and service providers to reach users at broadband speeds with a variety of applications, based on IP streaming, addressed file delivery and satellite based Internet services, such as webcasting and TCP/IP based web surfing. Digital data and multimedia content is transmitted to DVB/IP PC-cards and devices such as USB- and set top boxes. All content is received via small (50 cm) satellite dishes pointed towards the ASTRA satellites. Data transfers can achieve net rates of up to 9 Mbit/s to individual PCs and of up to 38 Mbit/s to high end servers. The ASTRA-NET services combined with the new broadband interactive (BBI) features (2-way satellite) provide a seamless solution for high-speed interactive satellite communications across Europe and beyond.
For more information, please visit: www.ses-astra.com.
About IBM Global Services :
The leading provider of computer services worldwide, IBM Global Services achieved a turnover of more than USD 33 billion during 2000. The driving force behind IBM's growth, IBM Global Services bring together 150,000 partners in 160 different countries. Within its range, IBM Global Services integrates services, software, materials and research to help all companies - from SMEs to multinationals - optimize fully their information systems.
For more detailed information on IBM Global Services, please visit: www.ibm.com/services/fr.