CableLabs has chosen the Broadcom BroadVoice16 voice compression codec as one of two royalty-free voice codecs for all future PacketCable 1.1 and 1.0 certified and qualified embedded multimedia terminal adapters (EMTAs) and PSTN media gateways beginning in April of 2005, pending successful conclusion of certain conditions such as demonstration of multi-vendor interoperability. A mandatory voice compression codec in PacketCable products provides cable operators with universal toll-quality voice compression for VoIP. Prior to the new codec requirements, toll-quality voice compression codecs within the PacketCable specification were optional, due mostly to relatively complex and expensive royalty agreements frequently associated with the use of ITU-based voice compression codecs.
Broadcom’s BroadVoice16 solution is a low-bit rate voice compression codec designed for toll-quality VoIP networks. The company said its BroadVoice16 reduces the bandwidth requirements of VoIP service by over 50%. Broadcom also offers a BroadVoice32 solution, which is a 32 Kbps voice codec that provides enhanced quality telephone service approaching natural voice or CD quality. http://www.broadcom.com
