Harmonic has reported that its new DiviCom Ion AVC SD encoder, which will be on display at the NAB Show, has successfully completed encoder conformance testing for the Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV platform.

The test was administered by Microsoft as part of the Microsoft Mediaroom Interoperability and Qualification Lab (IQ Lab) program, which is set up to ensure interoperability and compliance of encoders used in deployments of Microsoft Mediaroom.

Harmonic’s Divicom technology now supports the video headends for a majority of Microsoft's IPTV clients. The equipment is now being used by more than 100 telco operators to deliver more than 5000 broadcast video channels worldwide to more than 4 million IPTV subscribers.

The IP-based Ion AVC encoder delivers four simultaneous MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) SD channels in both high- and low-resolution formats while offering service providers a dense, cost-effective and high-quality platform for constant bit rate (CBR) video delivery. The new Ion AVC encoder is ideal for applications such as "long-tail" program delivery in a unicast environment — a key competitive differentiator for service providers.

Harmonic’s encoders are used by more than 100 telco operators to deliver more than 5000 broadcast video channels worldwide to more than 4 million IPTV subscribers.

The Ion AVC encoder was vigorously tested in both NTSC and PAL formats. Other Harmonic products that have successfully completed the Mediaroom compliance testing include the DiviCom Electra 7000 HD MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) encoder and the Electra 5400 SD H.264 encoder.

Microsoft Mediaroom, an IP platform used to deliver TV services that offer personal media sharing, remote digital video recording (DVR) and multiple picture-in-picture scenarios, is now deployed or being trialed by more than 20 service providers worldwide in 18 countries.

For more information, visit www.harmonicinc.com.