Irdeto Access, a leader in content protection and management, has announced that digital programming provider NORTV Telecommunições Ltda. has purchased the Irdeto M-Crypt conditional access (CA) system to provide digital MMDS pay-TV services to customers in the Londrina's region of the Parana state of Brazil.

NORTV, authorized to operate in the telecommunications industry by the Brazilian Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL), provides MMDS-based digital broadcast and interactive services in the Londrina's area in the state of Parana, Brazil. The services include high speed Internet access, corporate network access, games, digital television programming, and distance learning.

NORTV director Auber Silva Pereira was quoted in the release as saying: "We selected the Irdeto Access technology because through frequent upgrades, it assures dynamic and resilient security - the key to any successful pay-TV operation. We look forward to the technical and commercial support that Irdeto Access will be able to provide in our future multiservice head-end projects, enabling us to provide services focused on both pay-TV and Internet data transmissions."

A press release says that NORTV purchased an Irdeto M-Crypt to provide customers with digital television access. The MMDS network will support a 30 km coverage area spanning the cities of Cambe, Rolandia, Ibipora, Jataizinho; and is now fully operational.

Irdeto Access CEO Graham Kill was quoted in a release as saying: "We are confident that NORTV's use of Irdeto Access' products will enable them to remain on the forefront of the Latin American DVB and broadband markets. With our security management program, we ensure our customers that their content will be fully secure now and in the years to come."

According to the release, Irdeto M-Crypt, a user-friendly, cost-effective CA system, offers the flexibility required for NORTV's growth from its first-year goal of 15,000 pay-TV subscribers and 7,000 broadband Internet users.

The release also mentions that the company plans to expand its conditional access services to include interactive television programming; TV and Internet convergence applications; gaming, and distance learning.

Irdeto Access, a subsidiary of multinational media group Naspers developed the Windows® 2000-based Irdeto M-Crypt specifically for small- to medium-size pay-TV operators requiring digital encryption of content for cable, satellite, or terrestrial transmission.

As the subscriber base grows, Irdeto M-Crypt can be upgraded smoothly to Irdeto Access' large-scale CA system, Irdeto psys (PIsys), without the need to change smart cards or set top boxes already implemented in the field.