Entel Bolivia Deploys Direct-Broadcast Satellite Service With High-Efficiency Bandwidth Solution From Harmonic

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Oct. 28, 2015 -- Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT), the worldwide leader in video delivery infrastructure, today announced that telecommunications operator Entel Bolivia has deployed an integrated headend solution from Harmonic to power its direct-broadcast satellite (DBS) service. Using Harmonic's high-density, scalable video infrastructure solutions, Entel Bolivia can now deliver 124 SD MPEG-4 AVC, 20 HD MPEG-4 AVC, and 30 radio channels with high bandwidth efficiency. The Harmonic solutions allow Entel Bolivia to offer additional services, with improved video quality, while lowering operating expenses and providing a seamless migration path toward IPTV delivery. 

"To be the most competitive telecommunications operator in Bolivia, we needed to provide viewers with superior video quality and a wider range of services. We decided that deploying an MPEG-4 DBS system with a redundant teleport would be the most affordable way to offer this type of experience," said Emilio Evia, national projects manager at Entel Bolivia. "Harmonic is the only vendor that offers a fully integrated solutions approach to video delivery with advanced capabilities such as statistical multiplexing, enabling us to provide more SD and HD channels now, at a lower total cost of ownership, while simplifying our transition toward offering an IPTV service in the future. Since deploying a new headend from Harmonic, our video quality has improved leaps and bounds, increasing satisfaction for our existing customer base while also attracting new subscribers."

Entel Bolivia is using Harmonic's market-leading Electra(TM) encoders for high-quality, low-bandwidth MPEG-4 AVC encoding and DiviTrackIP(TM) statistical multiplexing of SD and HD video content. Leveraging the ultra-dense, high-performance encoders -- which support up to eight HD output services per chassis -- the operator has freed up bandwidth for additional service offerings. The Electra encoders include a primary and secondary output, increasing operational efficiency while driving down CAPEX. The encoders' "pay-as-you-grow" approach to scalability will enable Entel Bolivia to easily upgrade SD channels to HD via licensing.

The Electra encoders are integrated with Harmonic's ProStream(R) stream processors for multiplexing, scrambling and statistical multiplexing purposes. Utilizing the ProStream processor for statistical multiplexing, Entel Bolivia can support up to 100 services per statistically multiplexed pool, 16 pools per platform and three pools within a single transport stream in order to boost bandwidth efficiency. The ProStream processor guarantees the protection of Entel Bolivia's video content by supporting scrambling of DVB Simulcrypt applications. The ProStream platform is based on a highly robust, extensible and scalable design that lowers Entel Bolivia's operating expenses through reduced rack space and power requirements.

Entel Bolivia is using Harmonic's ProView(TM) integrated receiver-decoders (IRDs) to address a variety of content reception applications, from decoding to descrambling with PID filtering of multiple transport streams. The ProView platform features a high-density multichannel descrambler that simplifies the deployment of (or migration to) an all-IP headend solution while powering the launch of added-value services. The flexible hardware design is easily reconfigured with firmware upgrades, enabling seamless adaptation to next-generation video formats and codecs, such as HEVC.

Harmonic's NMX Digital Service Manager provides Entel Bolivia with a powerful set of tools for monitoring and managing its new DBS workflow.

"Working closely with Entel Bolivia, we were able to deploy what is quite possibly the highest bandwidth-efficient headend in the world at 12,000 feet above sea level," said Alvaro Martin, vice president of sales in Latin America at Harmonic. "Harmonic's solutions provide industry-leading video quality, scalability, and a flexible path to IPTV that will enable Entel Bolivia continued growth for years to come. Our global experience in DBS deployments led to a seamless integration."

Further information about Harmonic and the company's products is available at www.harmonicinc.com. 

# # #

About Harmonic
Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) is the worldwide leader in video delivery infrastructure for emerging television and video services. Harmonic enables customers to produce, deliver and monetize amazing video experiences, with unequalled business agility and operational efficiency, by providing market-leading innovation, high-quality service and compelling total-cost-of-ownership. More information is available at www.harmonicinc.com. 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements related to the anticipated capabilities and benefits of Harmonic's DiviTrackIP(TM) product, Electra(TM) encoders, NMX Digital Service Manager, ProStream(R) stream processors, and ProView(TM) IRD products. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these products may not materialize and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the possibility that the products may not meet some or all of their anticipated capabilities or provide some or all of their anticipated benefits, such as highest bandwidth efficiency, lowered TCO, industry leading video quality, lower operating expense, flexible path to continued growth, scalability, and flexibility.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, such as those more fully described in Harmonic's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec.31, 2014, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Current Reports on Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Harmonic as of the date hereof, and Harmonic disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

EDITOR'S NOTE - Product and company names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.