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US telco SureWest Communications has deployed a Switched Digital Video (SDV) solution from fellow US firm BigBand Networks on its hybrid fibre and coaxial cable network in Kansas City.

The SDV deployment is expected to optimise and reclaim network bandwidth, providing the bandwidth capacity necessary to expand the line-up of channels available on the digital cable TV service SureWest operates in Kansas City, without converting to an all-IP network.

SureWest launched 50 additional HD channels in its Kansas City market following the SDV deployment, which is is also expected to help prepare for the delivery of new data services, interactive features, IPTV and other services to TVs and IP-connected devices.

“In addition to meeting our needs for HD expansion, BigBand’s SDV solution helps us stay competitive and paves the way for us to support a broader base of connected devices, including PCs, mobile devices, IP set-top boxes and tablets,” said Ken Johnson, vice president and chief technology officer at SureWest Communications.

SureWest is headquartered in California and provides residential and business services in the greater Sacramento and Kansas City regions. The company acquired its hybrid fibre and coaxial cable network in Kansas City through the purchase of local ISP Everest Broadband in 2007.

The company revealed at the beginning of this year that it planned to double the size of its network in Kansas City, which covered around 40% of the local population when it was acquired from Everest Broadband.

SureWest Communications was also one of the very first companies to deliver high-definition IPTV services, starting in 2005.

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