HTN To Launch National Fiber Optic Network For NHL/NBA Seasons

HTN Communications will launch an all-digital, national fiber optic network designed to transport enhanced sports programming throughout the United States. It will be ready for the 2007-2008 National Hockey League and National Basketball Association 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 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 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 high quality HD to its customers.

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.