China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) agreed lately to build a next-generation broadcasting (NGB) laboratory in cooperation with the Internet solution giant Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), citing a report.

The SARFT-Cisco lab is expected to start running in the first half of 2010, mainly to research the strategies about the Chinese digital TV network's upgrade towards the NGB network, with operations and customer experience as its core consideration.

Besides, the lab is supposed to boost Chinese CATV operators' NGB pilot projects, new business operations, and service improvement as well as provide supports to the overall NGB technology system building, business layout, and project guidance.

The SARFT has planned to construct a nationwide uniform NGB network based on the wireless & fixed-line integration in the coming ten years, as effort to offer high-definition, super-high-definition, 3D, interactive, and virtual reality services to consumers.

On the other hand, Cisco has taken the first step to the Chinese NGB market by acquiring the set-top box business division of the digital TV solution provider DVN (Holdings) Ltd. (SEHK: 0500) for USD 44.5 million.

Source: hexun