NDS will act as prime systems integrator and technology provider for Hathway's (in which Star India officially has a 26 per cent stake) digital network upgrade and will also oversee integration of the set-top box, compression systems and subscriber management systems.

The NDS end-to-end system includes StreamServerä digital broadcasting management, VideoGuard® conditional access and NDS Core middleware. These will be installed in the Hathway Cable & Datacom operation center in Mumbai, and in the regional headends in New Delhi and Chennai.

The EPG being customized for Hathway Cable & Datacom will be a portal for cable TV viewers to access program schedules, synopses and up to date information about upcoming programs in the digital line-up.

Hathway has a presence in nine cities including Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Vijaywada, Ludhiana and Nasik. The company has 48 head-ends spread across nine cities with over 2.5 million subscribers..

Sue Taylor, V-P and GM of NDS Asia Pacific was quoted in an official release as saying: "India's cable TV marketplace has entered a critical phase in its development and presents massive opportunities to cable network operators and MSOs that get it right."

NDS has a research and development facility in Bangalore, India.