April 11, 2001

 

NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com) will provide a broadband content distribution platform service using not only domestic server centers but also global server centers connected to its Global IP Network, the firm announced today. In addition, NTT Com also will provide various optional services which will support their Internet business.


NTT Com has been operating a content distribution platform for live distribution trials and other functions in cooperation with content providers. NTT Com plans to commercialize the service from April 2001 in anticipation of rapid progress in the broadband-network business centered around streaming content.

Aim of platform provision

With the recent proliferation of broadband technology, streaming content distribution is increasing for Internet-based live performances and events, interactive remote education, radio broadcasting combined with images, film and television clips, and multi-angle image distribution.

It is not easy for content providers to construct a distribution platform by themselves due to considerations regarding maintenance, operation and costs.

NTT Com will provide a content distribution server, broadband IP network and optional services, such as content encoding, web page creation and electronic commerce solution in order to fully support the providers’ business activities.

Outline

With this platform service, NTT Com’s content distribution servers connected to the company’s large-volume IP backbone, will store streaming content provided by content providers and globally distribute the broadband content via global IP network (see Attachment for details).

Service features

Platform Scale:
The platform will be set up to handle approximately 10,000 to one million simultaneous streaming accesses in accordance with future market expansion and the proliferation of broadband access.

Content Distribution:
The platform is one that does not rely on media and can deal with both live^*1 and on-demand^*2 content.

Global Distribution:
In order to meet the demand from content providers who wish to distribute their content overseas, NTT Com will use its global IP network. Especially in the United States, Verio’s two server centers will be used for effective global broadband distribution. NTT Com will expand the overseas server centers.

Broadband:
NTT Com will meet various content distribution needs by combining the rapidly increasing CATV Internet and ADSL Internet. In the future, the service will be combined with mobile terminals equipped for broadband communication. NTT Com will aim to distribute high-quality broadband content by establishing content servers to disperse traffic. Also, the firm will provide narrowband to broadband (about 500 kbps) for encoding, depending on customer demand.

Reliability:
NTT Com will manage providers’ content under high security and stable maintenance and operating conditions at its data center.

Business Support:
NTT Com plans to provide the authentication function for member limited access and settlement services, such as “Calle” and “Livuy” to increase content providers’ business opportunities.

Service start

NTT Com will provide the service from April 12, 2001.

Future plans

As future goals, NTT Com plans to promote partnerships, enrich services, and provide total solution services in order to realize business solutions that meet the diversified demands of content providers. Furthermore, in order to expand streaming business and Internet business, NTT Com will provide “Netcast station,” a place for everyone to experience content streaming.

NTT Com will activate broadband-content and related businesses, as well as create new business models. NTT Com hopes the service will introduce general consumers to the broadband era and, thereby, enhance their daily lives.


Notes:

*1 Live:
Provides a realtime link to concerts and sporting events. Since content cannot be stored encoded beforehand, it can only be provided by streaming.

*2 On-demand:
Content is distributed and read out from a server that stores encoded content according to demand.

*3Netcast Station
In order for everyone to experience content streaming, NTT Com will construct Netcast Station, a site containing prepared machines, a content distribution server and Network connectivity. The site will be built in the first quarter of 2001.