Jan 24, 2012

100 Million Hybrid STBs to Ship in 2015

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Hybrid set top boxes are a fast-growing segment of the worldwide set top box market. These boxes include a TV tuner and an Internet connection. It’s similar to hybrid vehicles that combine a gasoline engine with an electric motor. Hybrid STBs are appearing in all service categories and new usage models and applications have provided momentum. As television services begin employing applications that are Internet-connected, we see hybrid set top boxes emerging as a key growth driver for the global set top box industry. New In-Stat research forecasts that 100 million hybrid STBs will ship in 2015.

“As the STB industry continues its forward march, the next logical iteration is for the set top box to enhance and expand traditional TV-related services by permitting access to content from the Internet, or from Internet-like web services that provide a ‘walled garden’ of authorized content,” says Gerry Kaufhold, Research Director. “By combining traditional TV services with ‘enhancements’ that come in via broadband, content owners and service providers think they can successfully compete with all the emerging over-the-top approaches.”

Some of the research findings include:

Over 23 million hybrid STBs will ship in North America in 2012
The Asia Pacific annual revenue will approach $1.5 billion in 2015
Satellite hybrid STBs will represent 58% of the hybrid STB market in 2013
Recent In-Stat research, Worldwide Hybrid Set Top Boxes (#IN1104957ME), provides definitions for low-end, mid-range, and high-end hybrid STBs, and presents trends for hybrid STBs in six geographic regions. Hybrid STBs are forecast by region for cable, IPTV, satellite, and digital terrestrial STBs. The worldwide summary includes trend lines by category and by region.

Five-year forecasts include:

Key trends for each category of box, in each of the six regions, are presented and discussed
Worldwide shipments of hybrid-capable STBs in four categories
Detailed forecasts for hybrid cable TV, satellite TV, telcoTV (IPTV), and digital terrestrial TV set top boxes, by region.
Forecasts by box type for six geographic regions: North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America, and Asia Pacific.

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Google could speed up FTTH

SureWest's latest FTTH target has been in nearby Olathe, Kan., an area where it allocated additional capital in 2011 to add 5,000 new homes. In late 2007, it entered the Kansas City, Mo. market through its purchase of the former Everest Broadband.

Barry M. Sine, managing director of equity research at Drexel Hamilton, said relationship with Google could provide upside for SureWest. Barry M. Sine, managing director of equity research at Drexel Hamilton, said relationship with Google could provide some upside for SureWest.

"We see two potential positives for SureWest," he wrote. "It could either be acquired by Google, as Google did with Motorola Mobility (NYSE: MMI), or it could become a tenant on Google's network using it as an inexpensive way to significantly expand its footprint."

Regardless of what the outcome may be, Wall Street liked the news and sent up SureWest's shares 6.8 percent to $14.60 in early trading on Monday.

News of a potential marriage between the ILEC and the Internet giant come on the heels of problems Google has had in securing access to utility poles in Kansas City. Google has been unable to reach an agreement with city officials on where it can place its fiber cables and how much it will have to pay. Such a delay is a major setback for the Internet giant. Originally, Google hoped to start signing up customers in Q4 2011 and offer services in Q1 2012, but this latest delay has obviously set back those goals.

Sine wrote that "Google has made its public policy statement in announcing this network, but could suffer a black eye if it encounters further delays and problems..."


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Jan 23, 2012

Hackers jailbreak iPhone 4S and iPad 2

The first untethered jailbreak for Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 4S and iPad 2 running iOS 5.0.1 is now available. The Chronic Dev Team, the hacking group behind much of the jailbreaking software for devices running iOS, announced the news on its blog Friday.

While previous jailbreaks have been released as quickly as the day after a software update, GreenPois0n, the solution from the Chronic Dev Team for iPhone 4Ss and iPad 2s running iOS 5.0.1, took over 10 months to develop because the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 both use a dual-core A5 processor. In contrast, the team released the jailbreak for older devices running iOS 5.0.1. in late December.


The software solution is currently available for PC and Mac users. A Linux version is currently in progress.

To hack the software, the Chronic Dev Team used CDevReporter, a program to accumulate the device crash reports from users of its other jailbreaking software. The reports, which totalled over 10 million within a week, helped the team better understand system vulnerabilities, enabling the team to jailbreak iOS 5.0.1.


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The future of digital free-to-air television

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is considering the future technological evolution of free-to-air television after the transition to digital television is complete.

Following decades of stability in television technology, Australia took a giant step in 2001 with the adoption of what was then state of the art digital television. The transition provides us with crisp, clear images, quality sound, multi-channels and features such as high definition, electronic program guides and parental lock.

The technology that underpins this system continues to evolve. Improvements in transmission technologies, data compression and new physical characteristics of receivers such as 3D and ultra high definition screen formats might offer attractive features or more channels of entertainment in future.

‘The ACMA is seeking to garner industry and community comment on the future evolution of digital terrestrial television,’ said ACMA Acting Chairman, Richard Bean.

‘We’re interested in the drivers of future technological change. Starting the discussion now means the ACMA can consider what, if any, action it might take in the short term to assist in delivering benefits over the next decade and beyond,’ Mr Bean said.

Copies of the paper and further background information are available on the ACMA’s website. Submissions to the discussion paper close on 30 March 2012.

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Jan 13, 2012

Apple's iPad 3 to support LTE

The report, which cited three unnamed sources familiar with the device, said that Apple will deliver an LTE iPad before an LTE iPhone because the tablet's larger battery can more easily handle LTE's power requirements. Given the release timeframe mentioned in the report, it's likely that Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) and AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T) will remain Apple's U.S. carrier partners--at least for now. Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S), which started selling the iPhone in October, is not expected to launch LTE service until mid-year.

An Apple spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The report also said that the next iPad will support a higher resolution screen than the iPad 2 and will run on a quad-core processor. Mass production of the iPad 3 started this month in China and will break for the Chinese Lunar New Year this month before ramping up to a peak in February.

The higher resolution screen, plus the inclusion of LTE, are steps Apple is taking to keep the iPad competitive with other devices such as LTE tablets from Samsung and Motorola Mobility (NYSE:MMI). Apple, which reports its quarterly earnings Jan. 24, sold 25 million iPads through the first three quarters of 2011.

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Jan 12, 2012

Global IPTV subscribers up 6% in 3Q 2011 to 54.4 million

Broadband Delivers Strongest Growth Since 2009

Third quarter broadband figures achieve 2009 levels of growth
Telecom operators increase market share as fiber shows strongest access growth rate
Asia remains dominant region, with China nearly doubling its broadband subscriber numbers
IPTV approaches 55 million subscribers as Europe holds on to top regional position against strong growth out of Asia
Broadband Forum work underpins the trends and sets course for a strong 2012 with new fiber, management, mobile backhaul and multi-service architecture initiatives

FREMONT, Calif. — Latest broadband and IPTV figures published by the Broadband Forum show a significant surge in growth in Q3-2011, with more new subscribers added in the quarter than at any time since early 2009. The figures also point to the growing importance of fiber as FTTH and hybrid FTTx deployments increase.

Overall broadband growth during the quarter, according to figures prepared for the Broadband Forum by Point Topic, is estimated at 17.4 million lines, bringing the global total to 581.3 million, a quarterly increase of 3.08% – and an annual growth rate of 12.89%.


“These are very healthy figures for Q3 and they demonstrate the ongoing strength of the broadband market,” commented Robin Mersh, CEO of the Broadband Forum. “We are especially pleased to see the trend in fiber technologies beginning to take off. Our G-PON certification program, launched in Q3 and with first certifications already in place, has been very widely welcomed and this is an indication that the market is ready for much further growth in this area.”

Technology – fiber shows strongest growth

The figures show that FTTx is now gaining ground on more traditional technologies. DSL continues to be the most dominant technology, adding more lines than any other in Q3. However, in percentage terms both FTTH and FTTx/hybrid technologies, showed the largest growth with over 8% overall, compared to 2.2% for cable modems and 2% for DSL. FTTx added just under 19 million lines in Q3 2011 – this is more than double the number in the same period last year and it continues to accelerate. This means that market share for fiber technologies – now at 16% – is fast catching up with cable’s 19.5%.

Broadband Line Market Shares:

DSL 61.5%
Cable Modem 19.5%
FTTx (inc. DVSL, FTTx+Lan, etc.) 13.5%
FTTH 2.5%
Satellite/mobile 1.8%
Other 1.3%
Source: Point Topic

Oliver Johnson, CEO of Point Topic said: “Hybrid FTTx will be where the action is over the next few years. Consumers are showing signs of being ready to pay for faster connections and the hybrid solution set is a cost effective way of getting relatively high speeds to them.”

Regional Growth and Top 10 Countries for Broadband

With a rise of almost 1.5% in the year, the proportion of broadband subscribers in Asia continues to increase. Results from other regions were more muted, although both Europe and the Middle East & Africa returned better numbers compared to the same period in 2011. The Americas also performed better in Q3 than Q2, with overall net additions in subscriber lines rising by 309,518.

Asia continues to dominate with over 10.3 million more subscriber lines added in the quarter, higher than in Q2 and the same quarter in 2010. With over 246 million lines in total, Asia now has 42.34% of the total market share in broadband.

Of the top ten countries, strongest growth continues to be in China, although strong growth in Russia has seen it improve its ranking to seventh place, fuelled partly by increases in IPTV adoption which has brought Russia into the IPTV top ten rankings for the first time.



IPTV – 6.06% growth and Russia joins the Top Ten

IPTV subscribers grew by 6.06% in the third quarter of 2011 and now total 54.4 million globally. IPTV continues to grow steadily, generating significant additional revenues as service providers work hard to make IPTV an integral part of their product package.



Asia, once again, is the fastest growing region for IPTV but European markets are strengthening on an individual basis and while some saturation is taking place there is fundamental strength in the market which has driven the region to a three year high in quarterly net additions.

IPTV Regional Market Share – Q3 2011:

Europe 43.26%
Asia 38.84%
Americas 17.39%
Middle East and Africa 0.51%
Source: Point Topic

The Top 10 countries for IPTV all reported strong growth. Russia is the major success story, entering the Top Ten for the first time and immediately occupying eighth place. Growth in France, the current world leader, is still very strong, in spite of the already high penetration rate, but China will soon take over the top spot, by sheer force of market size.

The Broadband Forum in 2012 – underpinning new technologies

With the strong push for more fiber deployments, the Broadband Forum’s testing and certification program for G-PON was a critical and timely announcement for the industry in 2011 and this work continues in 2012 as more vendors seek to achieve certification for their fiber products. At the same time the Broadband Forum will continue to expand this program to cover additional ONU modules and address XG-PON1.

The organization is also planning to build on its IPv6 work and MPLS in Mobile Backhaul (MMBI) initiative ensuring a smooth transition to LTE/4G. In 2012, it will publish important work defining the industry specifications for multi-service architecture and continue work on a TR-069 CWMP Conformance program, as well as launching new work in support of business services and machine-to-machine requirements.

Robin Mersh emphasized the importance of standards and certification programs: “Standards provide the foundation on which vendors and service providers can build their roadmap for development and deployment of products and services. Our task at the Broadband Forum is to provide the specifications and tools to ensure that global service providers and vendors can achieve standards based deployments. Doing so leads to interoperability and drives down the costs of deployment, encouraging innovation and faster rollouts of new services. One of our key new programs, Broadband Forum Certification, gives service providers world-wide the full confidence in the quality and competitiveness of their vendor equipment selection. We have made major steps forward with our MMBI and new G-PON Certifications and we intend to continue this work and introduce further programs in 2012.”

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Jan 11, 2012

Broadcom announces industry’s first integrated MoCA® 2.0 STB and Hybrid IP Gateway SoCs

Broadcom Heads to CES with Industry’s First Integrated MoCA® 2.0 System-on-a-Chip Portfolio; Delivers 2x Home Network Performance for Industry’s Top Operators; Showcases Innovation for 2012 CES Show

MoCA 2.0 more than doubles available home network bandwidth and enhances video quality and distribution in the home.
Enables more energy efficient systems with advanced power management technology for low power sleep and Wake-on-Lan (WOL) modes.
Supports higher levels of security for enhanced content protection.
MoCA 2.0 is supported by top operators including Charter, Cogeco, Comcast, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Rogers Communications Inc., Time Warner Cable and Verizon’s FiOS services.

LAS VEGAS — 2012 International CES — Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today announced one of its showcase innovations at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) – the industry’s first MoCA 2.0-Integrated Portfolio including six new set-top box (STB) and Hybrid IP Gateway system on a chip (SoC) platforms.

By integrating MoCA 2.0 directly in the STB SoC Broadcom’s new comprehensive portfolio of HD STB and Hybrid IP Gateway solutions realize the benefits of MoCA 2.0 including double the video bandwidth, increased security and lower power. Broadcom’s BCM7425 Dual HD Transcoding Gateway STB SoC features dual HD decoding and dual transcoding support for streaming simultaneous video broadcast content wirelessly to multiple devices, paving the way for advanced services like video conferencing and faster channel change with Broadcom’s FastRTV® technology.

Top operator support for MoCA 2.0 includes Charter, Cogeco, Comcast, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Rogers Communications Inc., Time Warner Cable and Verizon’s FiOS services.
Broadcom’s 40nm MoCA 2.0-integrated STB and Gateway platforms are powered by its high performance dual-thread Zephyr (MIPS®-based) CPU that delivers 3000 DMIPS with industry-leading processor capability. Designs include the following:
BCM7429 Multi-Room HD-DVR STB SoC
BCM7428 IP HD STB Client SoC
BCM7425 Dual HD/Dual Transcoding Hybrid Gateway STB SoC
BCM7422 Dual HD Hybrid Gateway STB SoC
BCM3325 Hybrid IP Transcoding Gateway SoC
BCM3322 Hybrid IP Gateway SoC
MoCA 2.0 redefines the standard for video distribution in the home by providing more than double the throughput performance and capacity compared to MoCA 1.1; critical power management capabilities for new low power requirements; and enhanced security for additional content protection.
MoCA 2.0 supports an improved packet error rate, enabling higher quality of service levels for operators.
MoCA 2.0 enables the effective use of higher numbers of tuner/demods being integrated into next generation STB and gateway devices.
MoCA 2.0 provides complete interoperability with MoCA 1.0 and 1.1 while also providing full performance with MoCA 2.0 nodes.

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Jan 10, 2012

Hybrid Cable Set-Top Box with Home Gateway

LAS VEGAS — 2012 International CES — Humax (KOSDAQ:028080), a premier set-top box manufacturer, will debut its global advanced tru2way set-top box at the International CES 2012 in Las Vegas. The version to be shown is targeted for the North American cable television market leveraging SeaChange International’s (Nasdaq: SEAC) Nucleus Hybrid Gateway software and Nitro applications suite providing a seamless subscriber experience. This next generation Humax platform supports cable operators’ QAM, IP and transitional video environments and is entering lab testing with a major U.S. cable operator.

Humax advanced set-top box demonstrations at the SeaChange booth will show home gateway capabilities such as media sharing across multiple DLNA enabled and IP connected video devices which include Apple and Android tablets and smartphones as well as game consoles. The new Humax set-top box is powered by the Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM) BCM7425 Dual HD Transcoding MoCA 2.0 Gateway SoC platform, offering dual HD decoding and dual transcoding support for streaming simultaneous video broadcast content wirelessly to multiple devices; the BCM3128 Full-Band Capture Multi-Receiver SoC; and the BCM3383 DOCSIS 3.0 cable gateway SoC.

“Humax will provide a state-of-the-art Home Gateway Server & Client Set-Top solution. With its rich experience in the digital broadcasting and interactive home networking solutions industry, the joint efforts with SeaChange on the Humax platform will be the launching point into the next generation Server-Client markets,” said Albert Son, President, Humax Americas.

“Humax has addressed one of cable’s most pressing CAPEX problems with its hybrid set-top introduction while simultaneously providing a new generation of connectivity and applications previously unavailable to the market,” said Shiva Patibanda, General Manager, In-Home Business Unit, SeaChange. “SeaChange is very pleased to collaborate with Humax to produce this end-to-end solution using our open, standards based software and blending proven tru2way interoperability with internet functionality through HTML5.”

“The Humax and SeaChange solution is on the leading-edge of innovation in delivering exciting multi-screen connected TV and Internet experiences in the home,” said Dan Marotta, EVP & GM, Broadband Communications Group, Broadcom Corporation. “Broadcom’s Full-Band Capture technology, DOCSIS 3.0 and MoCA 2.0-integrated Gateway with Transcoding platforms are driving a more efficient distribution of video streams and IP services to connected devices in the home ecosystem.”

The new product is a Gateway Server Set-Top Box which includes DOCSIS 3.0 gateway functions using the Broadcom BCM7425 Dual HD Transcoding MoCA 2.0 Gateway solution and provides home-networking service based on multi-screen features and MoCA 2.0. One of the core features is a multi-screen function which transcodes and delivers two HD channel content to various products including tablets, PCs and other mobile devices. MoCA 2.0 benefits include more than double the video bandwidth, increased security and lower power. The built-in eight tuners provide the Whole-Home DVR service and supports client’s set-top boxes in other rooms. Broadcom’s Full-Band Capture digital tuning technology directly samples and digitizes the entire 1GHz downstream spectrum of a cable plant, providing access to any channel anywhere and enabling a more efficient distribution of video streams and IP services to connected devices in the home ecosystem. The SeaChange Nucleus software enables the client box to provide same functions of server DVRs. The product also enables users various additional services with HTML5 server capability, tru2way’s OCAP and open software platform.

SeaChange’s Nucleus Hybrid Gateway software is the next generation solution for supporting cable operators’ transition from QAM to IP video so operators can offer consumers multi-screen media sharing, whole-home DVR, access to apps and OTT content, using smartphones as remotes and much more. Supporting the SeaChange Nitro Subscriber Experience software and leveraging its open, standards-based approach, SeaChange produced the Nucleus end-to-end solution to blend the proven tru2way interoperability with Internet functionality through HTML5.

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Jan 8, 2012

Celeno bows new video-grade Wi-Fi chip

Celeno Communications will be showing off its new video-grade Wi-Fi chip at next week's International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The CLR260 is a single PCIe WLAN chip powered by Celeno's OptimizAir and digital beamforming technology. The chip can be used in wireless home gateways and set-top box applications.

"With the introduction of the CLR260, Celeno now offers a full product suite optimized for robust wireless video streaming in the home," said Lior Weiss, vice president of marketing of Celeno. "Our 802.11n video-grade product line has been adopted by over 20 ODMs and OEMs to enable a range of OEM Wi-Fi products. Service providers can now implement a video-grade Wi-Fi-enabled home cost-effectively using Celeno-enabled devices. These could include broadband gateways enabled with 3 x 3 CLR260 5 GHz and CLR260 2.4 GHz, video bridges enabled with a CL1830 3 x 3 SoC, and set-top box and laptops leveraging on USB dongles enabled by a CLR250 3 x 3 USB/Wi-Fi chip, among others."

The CLR260 operates in both the 2.4 GHz and the uncongested 5 GHz frequency channels and works with legacy home networks, as well as new 5 GHz-powered portable devices.


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Amino picks Celeno's Wi-Fi platform for IPTV STBs

Amino Communications has selected Celeno Communications' Wi-Fi solutions for use in its IPTV set-top boxes.

Celeno's OptimizAir Wi-Fi chipsets will be used worldwide by Amino to help distribute IPTV and over-the-top (OTT) services throughout homes via Wi-Fi home networking applications.

With the deal in hand, Celeno is now a preferred technology partner for Amino. Financial terms of the agreement weren't released.

"With Celeno's field-proven Wi-Fi technology and rich Wi-Fi chipset portfolio, we are able to offer our telco customers devices that combine all the quality they've come to expect from Amino devices with additional wireless functionality," said Amino's CEO Donald McGarva.

Amino and Celeno will offer the following wireless joint solutions in the marketplace:

Wi-Fi/Ethernet bridges powered by Celeno's CL1830 SoC to wirelessly enable after-market IP set-top boxes, including the Aminet A130, A140 and A540. These bridges will enable whole-home wireless PVR functionality, allowing the consumption of centrally stored content anywhere in the home.
Wi-Fi/USB dongles powered by Celeno's CLR250 chip to wirelessly enable after-market IP set-top boxes to receive HD IPTV and OTT content.
"Our Wi-Fi portfolio provides superior home networking infrastructure to customers such as Amino, combining high performance for flicker-free video with the flexibility and ease of use required by consumers," said Celeno CEO Gilad Rozen.

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Jan 1, 2012

THE BROADBAND 50 - 2011

1: IP migration: A perfect circle

It has long been apparent that IP transport will eventually reach near-ubiquity, driven by the virtuous circle (… wider use drives down costs, dropping costs drives wider use, wider use drives …). Still, few can legitimately say that they expected usage to grow so quickly.

Even with YouTube, Netflix and Hulu out there, nobody outside of Apple saw the iPhone or the iPad coming – and, more to the point, nobody saw the rampant growth in IP data demands that smartphones and tablets represent. That demand includes traffic on everyone’s own networks, in addition to the backhaul some operators perform on behalf of others.

The business market – SMBs, and eventually enterprise customers – also demand IP transport, of course. And with cable giving up on cellular? It looks like Wi-Fi hotspot networks are in many more MSOs’ futures, suggesting even more IP traffic.

So expect to hear more about myriad manifestations of the migration strategy, including DOCSIS, CCAP, MPLS, pseudowires and more. – Brian Robert Santo



2: This cloud thing looks like a winner

Everything, it would seem, is headed to the cloud. And why not? Cable operators can cut down on multitudes of servers and other equipment in data centers, while businesses can reap the rewards of virtualization.

For those cable operators that lack Comcast’s financial clout to build their own clouds, there are public, private and hybrid clouds, through various partnerships and cloud vendors, to consider. Cable operators are also able to cash in by providing Ethernet transport services to and from clouds for businesses.

Comcast’s Xcalibur user interface is cloud-based, and consumers got in on the act with services such as Apple’s iCloud and Amazon’s cloud-based storage.

Cablevision and ActiveVideo Networks partnered up on cloud-based interactive services several years ago, and last year, Cablevision added “Quick View” mosaics, which let customers personalize their viewing preferences through ActiveVideo’s CloudTV platform.

VOD content also made its way to the cloud for quicker, more efficient streaming services. – Mike Robuck



3: All hail Comcast

Comcast hit on all cylinders last year. CEO Brian Roberts once again took over the spotlight at The Cable Show with demos of the next-generation, cloudbased Xcalibur platform, which will march

Comcast toward the IP world, as well as a speed test running on a Comcast cable modem that broke through the 1 Gbps speed barrier.

Xcalibur, which was developed by Sam Schwartz’s Comcast Converged Platforms team, is headed to a major market deployment early this year before a more widespread launch later this year.

“Comcast's work on Xcalibur is superb,” said one industry insider. “Sam Schwartz did a fabulous job.”

Also at The Cable Show, attendees got a peak at the Technicolor device that will provision Comcast’s Skype service, which will bring HD video conference calling to home TVs, PCs, and compatible smartphones and tablets.

Comcast took the wraps off of a home security service using iControl’s software, and it announced that it was one of the investors in the start-up company.

Lastly, Comcast started reaping the rewards of being both a cable operator and a programmer. One example was earlier VOD windows for NBCUniversal programming. – MR

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