HTN launches all-digital national fiber network for sports programming

HTN
Communications will launch an all-digital national fiber optic network designed
to transport enhanced sports programming throughout the

United States.
The network is slated to be ready in time for the start of the 2007-2008
National Hockey League (NHL) and National Basketball Association (NBA) seasons.

HTN will
deploy, control and manage a DTM (Dynamic Synchronous Transfer Mode) based
national private line digital fiber optic network. The network will connect
each of the NHL, NBA and Major League Baseball (MLB) venues in the

United States
to HTN customers.

“Broadcast
clients have shown a tremendous desire to take advantage of the reliability and
quality benefits of a DTM network,” said Joseph Cohen, Chairman and CEO of HTN
Communications. “HTN’s new DTM fiber optic network service will enhance
existing fiber optic transmission delivery technology, vastly improving upon
current network offerings.”

HTN’s new
network product offering will significantly increase its bandwidth capabilities
at the venues and provide broadcast and cable rights holders with multiple HD
and SD video backhaul capabilities from each stadium or arena. By using DTM
technology at the venues, HTN will be able to deliver the highest quality HD to
its customers with guaranteed bandwidth; a key part of providing the highest
quality HD and SD digital backhaul services.

The new
network also adds to HTN’s core services by providing OC3 or better transport
capabilities right at the venue. This allows for full duplex operation, giving
broadcasters not only outbound transport, but full return service to each
venue. Redundancy at both the national and local level, as well as full network
monitoring, is built into the system, providing users with the highest level of
service available in a digital transmission network.

“HTN is
very excited to be able to launch this new service. It is an example of our
commitment to providing customers with innovative transmission solutions along
with the expert and personal customer service that has defined our business for
over 50 years,” Cohen said. “We look forward to continuing our tradition
of providing the live sports broadcasting and cable communities with reliable
transmission solutions in the evolving world of High Definition television.”