Harmonic Inc. (Harmonic) is a global provider of broadband access solutions that enable broadband operators to more efficiently and effectively deploy high-speed internet for data, voice and video services for their customers; and versatile and high performance video delivery software, products, system solutions and services that enable its customers to efficiently create, prepare, store, playout and deliver a full range of high-quality broadcast and streaming video services to consumer devices,...
Harmonic Inc. (Harmonic) is a global provider of broadband access solutions that enable broadband operators to more efficiently and effectively deploy high-speed internet for data, voice and video services for their customers; and versatile and high performance video delivery software, products, system solutions and services that enable its customers to efficiently create, prepare, store, playout and deliver a full range of high-quality broadcast and streaming video services to consumer devices, including televisions, personal computers, laptops, tablets and smart phones.
Segments
The company operates through two segments: Broadband and Video.
Broadband
This segment provides broadband access solutions and related services, including its cOS software-based broadband access solution, to broadband operators globally.
Video
This segment provides video processing and production and playout solutions and services worldwide to broadband operators and satellite and telco Pay-TV service providers, which it refers to collectively as ‘service providers,’ and to broadcast and media companies, including streaming media companies. The company’s Video business infrastructure solutions are delivered either through shipment of its products, software licenses or as software-as-a-service (‘SaaS’) subscriptions.
Across the company’s two business segments, the company derived approximately 82% of its revenue from the Americas in 2024. The Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific (APAC) regions accounted for 14% and 4% of the company’s 2024 revenue, respectively.
Strategy
The company’s Broadband business strategy is focused on providing its customers with software-based solutions, on a centralized, distributed access or hybrid architecture, to enable and support these technology and industry trends.
The company’s Video business strategy is focused on providing its broadcast and media, streaming, and service provider customers with software-based appliances and SaaS platforms to enable and support these trends and transitions.
Products and Solutions
Broadband Products and Solutions
Software-Based Broadband Access Solution: As demand continues to rapidly grow for high-speed broadband services, such as streaming, VOD, time-shift TV and cloud DVR, the company can help broadband operators take advantage of this opportunity with its cOS software-based broadband access solution, an end-to-end solution consisting of virtualized cloud-native software elements that orchestrate and connect with a variety of Harmonic and third-party indoor and outdoor hardware devices. Harmonic hardware products include the company’s Oyster, Pebble, Ripple, and Shell DAA nodes, Reef and Wave PHY shelf products; and OLT modules and devices.
The company’s cOS solution delivers unprecedented scalability, agility and cost savings, and enables its customers to migrate to multi-gigabit broadband capacity and the fast deployment of DOCSIS and FTTx data, video and voice services. The company’s solution resolves space and power constraints in broadband operator facilities, significantly reduces dependence on hardware upgrade cycles, and reduces total cost of ownership. The company’s cOS solution can be deployed based on a centralized, distributed access or hybrid architecture.
cOS Central Cloud Services: The company cOS Central Cloud Services is a value-add subscription service for cOS customers that bundles three elements: 24x7 technical support; a dedicated customer success team focused on customer satisfaction and retention; and a cOS Central SaaS that enhances and simplifies the deployment, monitoring, operation and maintenance of the cOS solution with advanced analytics, management and engagement tools.
Video Processing and Delivery Solutions
The company offers two categories of solutions - a broad range of software-based video appliances and SaaS platforms - to deliver broadcast and streaming services and capabilities in the media market.
Software-based Appliances: The company’s video processing appliances, which include network management and application software and hardware products, provide its customers with the ability to acquire a variety of signals from different sources and in different protocols in order to deliver a variety of real-time and stored content to their subscribers for viewing on a broad range of devices. The company’s appliance product families include:
Encoders: The company’s high-performance encoders compress video and audio files to low bit rates and prepare such files for the proper formats and specifications required for playback, while maintaining high audio/video quality. The company’s latest software-based XOS encoders can deliver video in multiple formats, including standard, HD and Ultra HD, and in any video compression standard, including MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, and HEVC. This capability allows the encoders to converge workflows targeted for all forms of video delivery, whether broadcast or streaming.
Video Servers: The company’s Spectrum family of video server systems are used by broadcast and media companies to create play-to-air television channels. The company’s customers typically use these video server products to record incoming content from either live feeds or from tapes, encoding that content in real-time into standard media files that are then stored in the server’s file system until the content is needed for playback as part of a scheduled playlist.
High-density stream processing: The company offers high-density, real-time stream processing systems capable of high-performance, high-throughput video processing for mission-critical IP video delivery applications, including multiplexing, scrambling, splicing and blackout source switching.
Edge processors: The company’s family of Edge processing platforms allows service providers to acquire content delivered via satellite, IP or terrestrial networks for distribution to their subscribers. These products are used by broadcasters to decode signals backhauled from live news and sporting events in contribution applications, as well as by content owners looking to distribute their content in a controlled manner to a large base of affiliates.
SaaS platforms: The company’s VOS360 SaaS platforms provide both streaming and channel origination and distribution services in a public cloud environment that is fully managed and operated by its 24/7 DevOps teams. The company’s SaaS solutions enable the packaging and delivery of high-quality streaming services, including live streaming, VOD, catch-up TV, start-over TV, network-DVR, and cloud-DVR services through HTTP streaming to any device, along with dynamic and personal ad insertion. In addition, the company’s VOS360 SaaS platforms enable the transformation of traditional broadcast video workflows into cloud-based workflows, resulting in more efficient and leaner operations for its customers. The company continues to see an increasing number of customers seeking to leverage the inherent commercial, operational, and infrastructure flexibility offered by its VOS360 SaaS platforms. The company also provides an on-premises SaaS offering with its VOS Media Software solution for customers seeking to deploy a cloud-like architecture in a private data center.
Technical Support and Professional Services
The company provides maintenance and support services to most of its customers under service level agreements that are generally renewed on an annual basis. The company also provides consulting, implementation and integration services to its customers worldwide. The company draws upon its expertise in broadcast television, communications networking, compression technology and broadband access technologies to design, integrate and install complete solutions for its customers, including integration with third-party products and services. The company offers a broad range of services, including SaaS-related support and deployment, program management, technical design and planning, building and site preparation, integration and equipment installation, end-to-end system testing and comprehensive training.
Customers
The company sells its products to a variety of cable, satellite and telco, and broadcast and media companies. Set forth below is a representative list of the company’s significant end user and integrator/reseller customers, listed alphabetically, based, in part, on revenue during 2024.
The United States: Apple Inc; Charter Communications; Comcast; DirecTV; Dish Network; EPlus Technology; GCI Communication; Heartland Video Systems; SES; and Sinclair Broadcast Group.
International: America Movil; Comcast; Groupe Canal; Millicom International; Netorium; NYL Eletronica; Rogers Communications; Sky Perfect; Tele2 Sverige AB; and Vodafone.
Sales to the company’s 10 largest customers in 2024 accounted for 72% of its net revenue. During 2024, Comcast accounted for 44% of the company’s net revenue.
Sales and Marketing
In the United States and internationally, the company sells its products through its own direct sales force, as well as through independent resellers and systems integrators. The company’s direct sales team is organized by business segment, and geographically and by major customers and markets to support customer requirements. The company’s principal sales offices outside of the United States are located in Europe and Asia. The company’s international resellers are generally responsible for importing its products and providing certain installation, technical support, and other services to customers in their territory after receiving training from the company.
The company’s direct sales force and resellers for each business segment are supported by highly trained technical staff, which includes application engineers who work closely with its customers to develop technical proposals and design systems to optimize system performance and economic benefits for its customers. The company’s technical support teams provide a customized set of services, as required, for ongoing maintenance, support-on-demand and training for its customers and resellers, both in its facilities and on-site.
Harmonic’s corporate marketing organization is responsible for building awareness of the Harmonic brand in its markets and driving engagement with its strategies, solutions and products. The group develops the company’s corporate messaging and manages its customer and industry communication channels, including public relations, web and social media, events and trade shows, as well as demand generation marketing campaigns in conjunction with its sales force.
Manufacturing and Suppliers
In 2003, the company entered into an agreement with Plexus Services Corp. (‘Plexus’) to act as its primary contract manufacturer. Plexus accounts for the majority of the products the company purchases from its contract manufacturers. This agreement has automatic annual renewals, unless prior notice for nonrenewal is given, and has been automatically renewed for a term expiring in October 2025.
Intellectual Property
As of December 31, 2024, the company held 133 issued U.S. patents and 48 issued foreign patents and had 48 patent applications pending. The company’s issued patents are scheduled to expire between 2025 and 2043.
Research and Development
The company’s research and development expenses in 2024 were $121.0 million. Its internal research and development activities are conducted primarily in the United States, France, Israel, Hong Kong, Canada and India. In addition, a portion of its research and development is conducted through third-party partners with engineering resources in Ukraine, Poland, and India.
History
Harmonic Inc. was founded in 1988. The company was incorporated in California in 1988 and reincorporated in Delaware in 1995.