(16 April 2008 6:30 pm)

MUMBAI: BT has announced that its media and broadcast sector has bagged a multi-million dollar three-year managed service IP network solution contract for Star Group. Star at present broadcasts over 60 services in 10 languages, reaching more than 300 million viewers in 53 countries across Asia.

The service will run across BT's global media network, an MPLS enabled IP network designed specifically for carrying broadcast traffic.

Initially Star will carry eight channels - Star Plus, Star One, Star News, Vijay, Star Gold, Star Chinese Movies, STAR Chinese Channel and [V] Taiwan - from Hong Kong to Los Angeles.

Signals will be fed through DTH platforms including deploying connectivity to DirecTV, Echostar and cable systems that reach millions of subscribers across the United States. By utilising the BT core IP network, Star will be gaining access to a globally deployed Media IP network that already touches over 300 points of presence in 170 countries.

Star chief technology officer Dr. Guo Xiao Yong said: "This is our second Media IP contract with BT. It has proven to be cost effective, flawlessly reliable and resilient. BT's service has provided us with a giant technology leap, particularly in assisting us to expand the distribution of our channels in North America."