MUMBAI: The second largest cable operator in the Netherlands, Essent Kabelcom, has selected Irdeto Access, a world leader in content security solutions and subsidiary of multinational media group Naspers, to be part of its new market development model, aimed to boost the roll-out of digital cable television.
Essent Kabelcom, which serves approximately 1.7 million households in the Netherlands, has developed a digital TV offering that responds to consumer demand for digital quality. This trend, fuelled by the sales of wide-screen and plasma TVs, home cinema sets and DVDs, is now complemented by an extensive bouquet of quality digital TV and audio channels that do justice to the investments consumers have made in
their entertainment equipment.
A key component in Essent Kabelcom's groundbreaking TV Home package is the involvement of a number of consumer electronic market leaders, whose digital set-top boxes licensed by Irdeto Access will be available through normal retail channels. This approach ensures availability and choice for the consumer. The certified set-top boxes have been thoroughly tested against stringent quality and technology
requirements of Irdeto Access and Essent Kabelcom, thus ensuring easy installation and flawless operation.
The bouquet offered by Essent Kabelcom is protected by Irdeto Access' content security solution; Irdeto PIsys. Irdeto PIsys is a modular conditional access system allowing operators to encrypt and manage their pay-media content on any transmission platform including cable, satellite, terrestrial or IP based networks. It is designed to provide the highest levels of protection possible against the theft of content, assets and revenues, and may be scaled to handle millions of subscribers.
Essent Kabelcom manager digital television Marc Maters said, "We are excited to be able to launch a truly new business model that meets the requirements of our subscribers in terms of choice, price and quality. We believe that our package, built on partnerships with Irdeto Access and trusted consumer electronic A-brands, will boost the migration from analogue to digital television. Essent Kabelcom has chosen Irdeto Access for its flexible service model, entirely tailored to our business needs, in addition to its proven technology and support. Irdeto Access has demonstrated that it can deliver a state-of-the-art product that complies with all our requirements to facilitate a horizontal market model for digital pay-television. Of course we'll make sure that our current subscribers can keep on using their existing equipment."
According to Irdeto Access CEO Graham Kill, Essent Kabelcom's new business model will become the benchmark in Europe for cable operators that want to boost digital television. "We are proud to be selected as the preferred partner in Essent Kabelcom's innovative market development model. This partnership with Essent Kabelcom reflects our flexibility towards customers' requests and our commitment to embarking on new journeys with visionary customers that recognise our healthy and pragmatic approach to today's market needs," he said.
