Espial : introduces Elevate cloud-based hosted video solution

Adds 3 new customers who join over 40 service providers using Espial Elevate in US, Canada, and elsewhere

Ottawa, Canada - September 26, 2016 - Transforming the viewing experience worldwide, Espial today announced that its new cloud-based turnkey video solution, built upon the recently-acquired ARRIS Whole Home Solution, together with capabilities from Espial's leading IP back-office, client and user experience solutions, will be known as Espial Elevate. Three new customers include Easton Utilities, HBC, and Ritter Communications, bringing the total number of video service providers using the Elevate cloud solution to over forty in the US, Canada, Latin America, and elsewhere.

With Espial Elevate, video service providers gain:

• Cloud-based scalability, providing a path to IP Video which is cost-effective, reliable, and secure
• A hosted turn-key solution, with provisioning, device management, and metadata distribution via Espial's 24x7x365 Network Operations Center (NOC) and geo-redundant Elevate Cloud Data Centers
• An immersive, intuitive User Experience with innovative Apps capabilities
• State-of-the-art media gateways and set-tops, support and integration services provided by ARRIS

'Thanks to its cloud-based, hosted architecture, Espial Elevate empowers service providers such as HBC, Easton, and Ritter to quickly deploy a world-class, IP Video service,' said Jaison Dolvane, CEO, Espial. 'By driving service velocity and innovation for our service provider customers, we will help them improve subscriber satisfaction, reduce churn and increase revenue.'

'Elevate's cloud-based approach enables HBC to scale our video services quickly and cost-effectively,' said Jim Kronebusch, Chief Technical Officer, Hiawatha Broadband Communications. 'We believe Espial Elevate will bring both speed and competitive advantage to HBC's video offering going forward.'

'Our field trial of Elevate has been a success, and we are eager to begin our large-scale deployment shortly,' said Ted Book, Director of Cable & Communications, Easton Utilities. 'Espial Elevate will provide Easton subscribers with a top-tier user experience that is essential in today's competitive video arena.'

'Ritter needed a cutting-edge approach that allowed us to quickly deploy a new, compelling suite of video services, and we're glad we selected Elevate,' said Trent Taylor, Residential Product Manager, Ritter Communications. 'Given Espial's expertise in next-generation IP video solutions with service providers worldwide, we're excited about the future of the Elevate solution and look forward to working with Espial to enhance it further.'

Espial Elevate may be seen at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo this week in the ARRIS booth #1074, as well as by appointment by emailing David Hamilton at dhamilton@espial.com.

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About HBC (www.hbci.com)

Headquartered in Winona, MN, Hiawatha Broadband Communications, Inc. (HBC) delivers cutting edge telecommunications services to communities in southeastern Minnesota. Founded in 1997, HBC builds and operates hybrid fiber and Fiber-To-The-Home networks as well as providing wireless broadband in rural areas. The company offers a video service selection of more than 300 channels (including approximately 100 in High-Definition), digital music, Pay-Per-View, and extensive local programming produced by HBC Studios. The company has employees supporting, retail, wholesale, construction, business consulting, and Wizards Technical Support divisions in over 20 communities.

About Easton Utilities (www.eastonutilities.com)

Easton Utilities is responsible for the operation, management and maintenance of the electric, water, wastewater, natural gas, cable television and Internet utility services for the Town of Easton and portions of the surrounding area. In 1923, Easton became the first municipality in the state to own all of its utilities, an arrangement that is still unique today. Easton Utilities is a community-owned, not-for-profit, utility and telecommunications company.

About Ritter Communications (www.rittercommunications.com)

Ritter Communications, founded in Marked Tree, Arkansas and headquartered in Jonesboro, began providing local phone service in 1906. Today, Ritter serves 62 communities and more than 45,000 business and residential customers in northeast and north central Arkansas, southeast Missouri and west Tennessee with advanced voice and data services, cable TV and high-speed internet typically found only in major metropolitan areas. Ritter invests heavily in the communities it serves by deploying proven, best-in-class infrastructure and technology while coupling it with a world class, customer-focused experience. To stay connected, visit facebook.com/rittercommunications.

About Espial (www.espial.com)

With Espial, video service providers create responsive and engaging subscriber viewing experiences incorporating powerful content discovery and intuitive navigation. Service providers achieve 'Web-speed' innovation with Espial's flexible, open software leveraging RDK and HTML5 technologies. This provides competitive advantage through an immersive and personalized user experience, seamlessly blending advanced TV services with OTT content. With customers spanning six continents, Espial is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, has R&D centers in Seattle, Montreal, Silicon Valley, Cambridge, and Lisbon, and sales/support offices in N. America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.espial.com.

Espial Contact:

Kirk Edwardson
Director of Marketing
Tel: +1 613 301 3423
Email: kedwardson@espial.com