26
Annual Report -
2013
-
Vivendi
Group Profile |
Businesses
| Litigation | Risk Factors
1
GVT
In November 2012, GVT launched a managed dedicated hosting service
in its three data centers in Brazil, located in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo
and Curitiba. This service provides business customers with a complete
IT infrastructure (Servers, Storage, Network and Backup) and delivers
the best network solution, Internet and data center, without requiring
their investment in equipment, upgrades or maintenance. Hosting
services are already available in these three data centers in three cities.
In 2013, in a new sales strategy for the Corporate Segment, GVT
launched the brand “GVT Empresas”, which offers bundles including
dedicated links and digital voice solutions. The bundling strategy seeks
to deliver a more complete solution for clients, increase customer
loyalty and increase the average revenue per user.
2.3.4.
Network
GVT’s network is the most modern in Brazil. It includes one of the most
extensive local access networks and long-distance fiber infrastructures
in the country, which supports its leading position in the NGS (Next
Generation Services) market and allows the Company to expand its
presence nationwide.
GVT has designed its network using state-of-the-art technology that is
rich in features and capable of supporting the growing market demand
for a wide range of telecommunications, high-speed broadband and
multimedia services.
The core network is implemented around an IMS (Internet Protocol
Multimedia Subsystem) architecture, which provides GVT with unique,
flexible, faster time-to-market integrated services including fixed
telephony, data, VoIP and video (IPTV and VoD services). This convergent
network allows GVT to launch special services like Freedom, an Android
and iOS app that allow fixed-line customers to make calls anywhere
using a smartphone with an IP connection, even over third-party
networks. The app was being tested during 2013 to be released to the
market in the first quarter of 2014.
GVT’s network access solution is unique in the Brazilian market, since
it is based on a FTTN (Fiber-to-the-Node) network, which combines
metropolitan fiber optic rings and short copper lines, with 200 meters
between the street distributors and the households in new areas, and
with an average of 400 to 800 meters in the oldest areas. The proximity
of this network to customer premises enables superior quality and
higher bandwidth services of up to 20 Mbps with the current ADSL2+,
50 Mbps with VDSL2 technology and 150 Mbps with EFM (Ethernet
First Mile using fiber directly to the customer’s premises). In 2013, GVT
started to deploy new entry points with GPON technology of 2.5 Gbps.
This technology was launched in two new cities, allowing GVT to
offer customers speeds of 300 Mbps and more, in accordance with its
business strategy.
The new hybrid Pay-TV service works over the IP network for on-demand
and interactive services, using a CDN structure for video distribution and
using DTH for linear channels via Ku-band satellite.
GVT has 69,700 kilometers of cable (fiber and copper networks) in
metropolitan areas. In addition, GVT’s long-distance fiber network is
29,500 kilometers long, satisfying 85% of its traffic requirements.
2.3.5.
2013 Highlights
In January, GVT launched operations in Coronel Fabriciano (MG), in
the Southeast Region of Brazil.
In February, GVT announced the expansion of its coverage area in
the city of Rio de Janeiro with the release of over 3,000 new fixed
telephone lines and broadband services.
In March, GVT launched operations in two other key Brazilian cities:
Nova Iguaçu and Duque de Caxias. Both cities are in the Rio de
Janeiro metropolitan area.
In April, GVT launched operations in Gaspar (SC) in South Brazil.
In May, GVT launched operations in Camboriu (SC) in South
Brazil, and officially launched a new call center in Fortaleza (CE),
in Northeast Brazil.
In June, GVT expanded operations in the Northeastern region of
Brazil with the building of a new network in the historic center of
Recife (PE), an area with high demand for innovative telecom and
Pay-TV services.
Also in June, GVT HDTV launched a new app for children.
The Memoria Musical game can be accessed directly on the TV
screen. This app was developed by GVT HDTV in partnership with
Discovery and is available free to all subscribers.
In July, GVT launched operations in Bauru (SP), in the state
of São Paulo.
In August, GVT launched a second uplink to its Pay-TV service in
Brasilia (DF). This structure was launched with the objective of
increasing the availability of TV service, operating as a secondary
station. The use of two uplinks is a unique GVT system. With this
uplink, the risk of falling transmission caused by rain is almost nil.
Also in August, GVT began operations in the residential market of
São Paulo (SP). In 2013, GVT had coverage in four districts, which
will increase district by district in 2014 and beyond.
In October, GVT HDTV launched a new free app for children that can
be accessed directly on the television screen. The game “What is
out of place?” was developed in partnership with Discovery.
Also in October, GVT launched operations in Ribeirão Preto (SP), in
São Paulo as well as in Campos dos Goytacazes (RJ), another city in
the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro.
In December, GVT launched operations in Caruaru (PE), in the
Northeast, and Nilopolis (RJ), in the metropolitan area of Rio de
Janeiro.
