FTC Ensures TV Quality and Operational Cost Savings with Mariner's Service Monitoring Solution

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Telco TV Conference and Expo -- Farmers Telephone Cooperative (FTC) has deployed xVu™, Mariner's award-winning IPTV service assurance platform.  This end-to-end solution ensures quality of TV experience to FTC's customers while providing operational cost savings through performance insight all the way back to the head-end.

FTC has taken advantage of Mariner's xVu product suite (SupportVu, NetworkVu and ReportVu), from the TV service installation to continuous real-time monitoring of the customer's service.  The xVu solution has the following material benefits throughout the TV deliver chain:

• SupportVu™, Mariner's help desk tool, is used to 'green light' the installation of the FTC Vision digital TV service.  The challenge of delivering a new service and the deployment of state-of-the-art equipment means a more complex install.  SupportVu gives the Install and Repair (I&R) technicians a quick and easy way to verify the installation and confirm everything is working properly.  SupportVu also verifies that a repair was successfully done; in both cases avoiding a costly second truck roll.
• NetworkVu™, a troubleshooting tool, is used to monitor end-to-end quality of TV service and help proactively identify problems on the network.  At FTC, a recent silent network failure undetected by traditional network monitoring tools was discovered and alerted with NetworkVu.  Channel issues have also been isolated with this tool as well.  Numerous help desk calls have been avoided.
• ReportVu™, is used to monitor IPTV service usage and performance, helping reduce churn by flagging "at risk" customers.  ReportVu demonstrates trends across various key performance indicators of overall IPTV service health.

Supporting Quotes

"The xVu suite has given us unprecedented insight to our digital TV service performance.  Key to assuring the quality of our IPTV services are the real-time end-to-end view and pinpointing the scope of any problem and localizing it in the distribution chain," said Jay Brown, Chief Network Officer of FTC.  "The savings on installation and repairs alone have fast-tracked the deployment of our digital service to more than 14,000 customers."

"Mariner is very pleased to be working with the team at FTC in delivering a very high quality TV service to their customers," states Curtis Howe, President and CEO of Mariner.  "FTC represents one of the best examples of the range of benefits to be realized from xVu, from an extensive verification of the TV service installation to monitoring at risk customers due to quality issues."

Key Facts

• FTC Vision's state-of-the-art digital TV service provides customers with astounding picture quality and sound, giving them the best in home entertainment.  FTC Vision features over 200 digital channels, 45 music channels, DVR, VOD, PPV, an interactive program guide with a Picture-in-Picture browser and extensive parental controls.
• FTC's IPTV service, Vision, is delivered over the award winning Microsoft® Mediaroom™ platform.
• Mariner's xVu is currently deployed with service providers across Canada, the U.S., the Caribbean and the Asia-Pacific markets.  The solution is also in lab trials with European service providers.

About FTC

Founded in 1952, Farmers Telephone Cooperative Inc. is a local, multifaceted telecommunications company headquartered in Kingstree, South Carolina.  Serving more than 60,000 customers within a coverage area of 3,000 square miles, FTC provides cutting-edge technology to businesses and residents in Williamsburg, Lee, Sumter, Clarendon and Florence counties in South Carolina.    FTC has evolved into a state-of-the-art organization offering local and long-distance telephone service, security systems and monitoring, video, digital wireless and high-speed Internet services. Customers can choose from a wide array of products and services at any of the eight full-service business offices.  For additional information about FTC, call 888-218-5050 or visit http://www.ftc-i.net or http://www.facebook.com/FarmersTelephone.

About Mariner

Mariner is a leading provider of innovative IP video solutions and technologies that deliver unique value to the expanding IPTV industry.  Mariner's flagship service assurance product, xVu, specializes in video and IPTV service monitoring.  Mariner's architecture and toolset enables Service Providers to better assure the viewing experience, isolate troubles and guide cost effective resolution such as "Smart" truck rolls.  Mariner's frostt platform delivers interactive TV, social networking and self-service capabilities to the TV in a highly compelling viewing experience.  Come meet Mariner at TelcoTV 2011 – Booth 100.

SOURCE Mariner