Cisco inks key rural IPTV deal  

Cisco Systems is vying to become a one-stop shop for rural telcos planning to offer IPTV.

The vendor announced a partnership this week with SES Americom, the satellite video provider that will supply rural telcos with prepackaged video content through a unique deal with the National Rural Telephone Cooperative. Cisco will act as a chief infrastructure supplier and integrator for customers of that offering.

Last year, four rural telcos began beta-testing IP Prime, the so-called “headend in the sky” video transport service offered through the NRTC that leverages the combined purchasing power of its members. That service is expected to be available this summer to the NRTC's 1200 members, which collectively serve about 30 million homes.