SBC Communications and Microsoft signed a 10-year, $400 million agreement last week to provide next-generation television services using Microsofts TV IPTV Edition software platform.
The telephone company began testing an IP-based television service built on Microsofts TV IPTV Edition platform in June. SBC and Microsoft will begin trials next year and plan commercial availability of the IP-based television platform in late 2005.
As part of the effort, construction is expected to begin early next year on SBC Project Lightspeed, which will deploy fiber-optic cable closer to customers to provide new IP-based services.
Project Lightspeed is expected to reach 18 million households by the end of 2007, officials said.
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