Sun Microsystems has introduced the Sun Streaming System, a video delivery platform for cable and telecommunications operators, enabling them to increase subscriber revenue by offering new video-based services and personalised video streams to each consumer.

The system leverages the Solaris 10 Operating System (OS) to deliver video streaming capacity by enabling personalised video delivery over existing optical network infrastructure -- consequently reshaping the economics and quality of video delivery services.

Designed by Sun co-founder Andy Bechtolsheim, the Sun Streaming System claims to support up to 160,000 simultaneous video streams at the rate of 2Mbps and a price of less than $50 per stream for complete video headend. Thirty-two integrated 10 Gigabit Ethernet optical networking ports combine multiplexing, switching and routing all in one high-density video streaming package.

The Sun Streaming System is an integrated platform that is composed of a distributed software suite running on Sun Fire x64 systems, storage and switching technologies. Key components of the Sun Streaming System are the new Sun Streaming Software, the new Sun Fire X4950 Streaming Switch, the Sun Fire X4500 data server and the Sun Fire X4100 systems.

Sun is aligning with several resellers, partners and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), including EDS and Nortel, to bring the Sun Streaming System"s market-changing economics to customers in the video services industry.

"The Sun Streaming System, which combines high performance in a cost-effective platform, will facilitate the introduction of competitive new video applications and is a strong addition to Nortel’s IPTV solution ecosystem,” said Sameer Sheth, general manager, Video Solutions, Nortel.