Vancouver, CANADA, September 15, 2022 – WISI, a global leader in carrier-grade video technologies, has been chosen by Paul Bunyan Communications to modernize their video delivery network and replace aging equipment in their headend. With this network upgrade, Paul Bunyan was able to decrease power and heat consumption by 100 times, decrease network complexity, reduce time for troubleshooting, and improve video quality for subscribers.

Paul Bunyan Communications is a rural broadband cooperative in Northern Minnesota, serving 6,000 square miles, of which they are constantly expanding. Prior to working with WISI America, WISI’s North American head office, their video network risked having service outages and quality issues due to end-of-life and end-of-support equipment in their headend.

“Partnering with WISI America was definitely the right decision for our team. We have over 102 channel encoders that we are replacing with the Inca Platform, which will decrease our power and heat consumption by 100 times,” said Grant Hicok, Lead Video System Engineer for Paul Bunyan Communications. “300 connections went down to 6, so we are able to reduce the number of switches we need and the time for troubleshooting. It has massively simplified our headend.”

The Inca IP Video Platform is a live linear and ABR solution that specializes in bridging the gap between current and future video technologies and can replace racks of headend equipment with one sophisticated platform.

“All of the equipment we have purchased from WISI has the ability to use new codecs and OTT technologies and WISI are always adding new features,” said Hicok. “The Inca platform actually tells us about problems with streams that we‘re not aware of, so we’re able to provide better quality service to customers.”

Included in the platform is VidiOS™, an award-winning video monitoring solution. VidiOS™ enables easy monitoring of every stream in a video network for expedited troubleshooting and analysis. Essential features include inbound and outbound video thumbnails, stream capture and download, extensive statistical analysis, and rapid stream configuration.

“We continuously invest in the Inca platform so that we can add the features video operators need to better serve their communities,” said Sharen Sandhu, VP of Product for WISI America. “We are proud to partner with Paul Bunyan Communications and help streamline their video network with this modernization project.”

“I definitely recommend WISI America,” said Hicok. “I have not worked with better support in the 17 years I have been doing video. They’re great to work with.”

To learn more about WISI and the Inca IP Video Platform, visit wisigroup.com.

About WISI Communications

WISI employs 600 people worldwide at locations in Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Canada and China. In addition, WISI works with more than 100 partners in all major international markets.

Nine decades ago, the high-tech company’s successful path began as one of the world’s pioneers in radio frequency and broadband technology. Today, new media are driving the rapidly increasing demand for broadband services. Modern broadband networks must be intelligent, powerful and scalable transport solutions. This is our business. As an innovator and technology integrator for key communications sectors, we are committed to innovation, now and in the future. For more information about WISI Communications, visit wisigroup.com

About Paul Bunyan

Paul Bunyan Communications has the region’s largest and fastest all fiber optic network serving over 6,000 square miles throughout most of Beltrami County and portions of Cass, Hubbard, Itasca, Koochiching, and St. Louis Counties.  The cooperative provides fiber optic fast Internet speeds up to 10 Gig powered by the GigaZone™, television services, digital voice services, Residential and Business IT services, and is also the home of northern Minnesota’s certified Apple Service Centers.