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DIRECTV Partners With CURRENT Group to Enable Broadband and VoIP Services to Its Customers
Service Will Premiere in Dallas, Texas
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., and GERMANTOWN, Md., Aug. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/
-- DIRECTV, Inc. (NYSE: DTV) and CURRENT Group announced today a wholesale
distribution agreement that will enable DIRECTV to offer its customers
CURRENT's innovative BPL (Broadband Over Powerline) high-speed Internet
service and VoIP services at the end of 2007/beginning of 2008. DIRECTV
customers will be able to access the Internet by plugging a BPL modem into
virtually any outlet in their home. This easy-to-use symmetrical service
can send data faster than the typical cable modem service in use today. The
increased upload speed is particularly important as users rely on greater
speeds to play interactive games or send significant volumes of digital
content through the Internet.
Under the terms of the agreement, DIRECTV will have access to CURRENT's
BPL network, initially in the Dallas/Fort Worth BPL network that will cover
approximately 1.8 million homes and businesses over the next several years.
DIRECTV will be able to market a bundle that includes DIRECTV high-speed
Internet and VoIP services to its residential customers. In addition, the
agreement provides DIRECTV the ability to add other geographic markets as
CURRENT builds out its network. CURRENT's BPL network enables both
Broadband services and Smart Grid solutions designed to improve efficiency
and reliability while reducing the environmental impact of electric
service.
"We are pleased to partner with DIRECTV to offer them the ability to
bundle their world-renowned satellite video services together with BPL
high- speed Internet and VoIP services," said Tom Casey, CURRENT's chief
executive officer. "Consumers in Dallas will have a compelling new choice
for their broadband service and, at the same time, feel good about the fact
that the same Internet network is helping to improve the efficiency and
reliability of the electric grid while reducing its environmental impact."
"Our agreement with CURRENT gives our customers another high-quality,
easy-to-use option to pair broadband services with DIRECTV's video
offerings," said Evan Grayer, vice president of Broadband for DIRECTV. "By
choosing this bundled option, DIRECTV customers will now be able to enjoy
fast, reliable and secure high-speed Internet service anywhere they have a
power outlet in their homes."
About CURRENT
CURRENT builds an Internet overlay on to existing electric wires
allowing electric utilities worldwide to deploy and manage a Smart Grid
benefiting utilities, consumers and the environment. CURRENT provides
sensing technology, two-way high-speed communications, 24/7 monitoring and
analytic software and related services to provide location-specific,
real-time actionable data in an integrated Smart Grid solution. CURRENT's
solutions also allow consumers and business users to have high-speed
Internet access and voice services from virtually any electric outlet.
CURRENT's investors include Duke Energy Corporation, EarthLink, Inc.,
EnerTech Capital, Google Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., General Electric
Company, Hearst Corporation, Liberty Associated Partners (an investment
partnership between Liberty Media Corporation and the Berkman family) and
TXU Corp, among others. Further information about CURRENT Group, LLC, a
privately-held company based in Germantown, MD, is available at
www.currentgroup.com.
About DIRECTV
DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading satellite television service
provider, presents the finest television experience available to more than
16.3 million customers in the United States, through exclusive content,
industry-leading customer satisfaction (which has surpassed cable for seven
years running) and superior technologies. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers
enjoy access to over 250 channels of 100% digital picture and sound,
exclusive programming and the most comprehensive collection of sports
programming available anywhere, including NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM) and MLB
EXTRA INNINGS(R). DIRECTV (NYSE: DTV) also leads the digital television
technology revolution with exclusives such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET
SuperFan(TM), US OPEN Interactive and YES Network Interactive and will soon
have the capacity to offer over 150 channels in HD. For the most up-to-date
information on DIRECTV, please visit directv.com.
SOURCE DIRECTV, Inc.; CURRENT Group
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