MultiChoice Selects Harmonic for Large Scale DVB-T2 Deployment in Africa

Harmonic Electra, ProStream and ProView Video Headend Solutions Enable Efficient Use of Bandwidth and Enhanced Regional Services While Delivering Excellent Video Quality

SAN JOSE, CA — Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced that MultiChoice Africa (JSE: NPN), the leading sub-Saharan multichannel digital satellite television provider, has selected Harmonic’s digital video headend solutions for its new Pan-African DVB-T2 network. The new DVB-T2-based distribution system, supplied by local reseller and integrator African Union Communication, (Pty) Ltd., relies on Harmonic Electra® multifunction HD/SD encoders, ProStream™ stream processing technology, and ProView™ integrated receiver/decoders (IRDs) to reduce the cost of transmission through more efficient use of satellite bandwidth, while bringing localized content to viewers throughout Africa.

“Harmonic digital video headend solutions provide the bandwidth efficiency, video quality, and reliability required to meet our needs for this extensive DVB-T2 network rollout,” said Gerdus Van Eeden, chief technology officer at MultiChoice. “The new distribution system allows us to reliably transmit HD/SD MPEG-4 content over satellite for retransmission on the DVB-T2 network, providing improved regional programming while maintaining excellent video quality.”

Harmonic Electra 8000 MPEG-4 HD and Electra 5400 MPEG-4 SD encoders are used by MultiChoice Africa to deliver high video quality at low bitrates, and the ProStream 1000 stream processing platform with DiviTrackIP™ statistical multiplexing is used to deliver high-quality services while maximizing bandwidth. The operator has also deployed Harmonic ProView 7000 IRDs for content reception at regional towers across the continent, and the NMX Digital Service Manager™ to monitor and control the complete headend system.

“Harmonic brings considerable experience to this deployment, having implemented numerous DTH and DTT projects that serve customers throughout Africa,” said Ido Nahmany, sales director, Africa, at Harmonic Inc. “Our complete offering for high-quality HD/SD encoding, multiplexing and DVB-T2 distribution enables operators such as MultiChoice Africa to significantly reduce bandwidth usage costs associated with distribution to terrestrial transmitters, and increase the range and quality of the services they provide.”