Verimatrix Enters the Cable Market with VCAS for Cable IPTV

Tuesday, September 4th, 2007
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Verimatrix Integrates GoBackTV’s CMTS Bypass Technology to Give Operators a Competitive Advantage in Delivering Secure IPTV Services over Cable

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — Verimatrix, setting the standard in content security technologies that enhance the value of pay-TV networks, today announced its latest content security solution VCAS™ for Cable IPTV, an innovative solution for affordable delivery of secure IPTV services over cable. In an OEM partnership with GoBackTV (GBTV), Verimatrix has integrated its Video Content Authority System (VCAS) with GoBackTV’s “CMTS Bypass” solution, which converts an existing cable system to an asymmetric IP network perfectly suited for IPTV services. By enabling IPTV on existing cable plants, operators can avoid costly infrastructure upgrades, reclaim bandwidth for new services and reduce cost by gaining access to a wide variety of IPTV consumer premises equipment.

Verimatrix will be demonstrating VCAS for Cable IPTV capabilities at IBC2007 Hall 5, Booth 316.

“Cable TV operators are continually seeking more cost-effective approaches to deliver services over their existing networks, and the use of IP technology can offer some significant benefits,” said Mike Paxton, principle analyst at In-Stat. “The Verimatrix approach to CMTS Bypass and software-only content security has the potential to provide cable operators with improved bandwidth management while offering enhanced protection for valuable video content.”

As an innovative supplier of digital video head-end and edge solutions, GoBackTV provides the Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) Bypass hardware infrastructure at the head-end. Multicast and unicast IPTV streams are delivered via off-the-shelf IP set-top boxes (STBs) directly though DOCSIS-compliant cable modems, bypassing the CMTS core processor entirely.

Verimatrix’s VCAS software-based content security is already integrated with more than 70 IP STBs and it offers the ViewRight™ PC Player, the only independently-audited, secure PC player for IPTV on the market. Therefore, operators can take advantage of readily available, pre-integrated IP STBs and other partner components in Verimatrix’s ecosystem. Furthermore, VCAS for Cable IPTV fulfills the U.S. FCC’s separable security mandate, which requires the content security to be made available separately from the receiver devices. The solution is compatible both with the U.S. DOCSIS® and EuroDOCSIS™ standards.

“We saw a gap in the market for an alternative solution designed for operators that want to ‘turbocharge’ their digital cable video services without expensive infrastructure costs. Whether you are a cable operator looking to upgrade or a telco wanting unified content security with your cable franchise, VCAS for Cable IPTV is a flexible and cost-effective solution that can be implemented today,” said Steve Oetegenn, chief sales and marketing officer of Verimatrix. “GoBackTV is an ideal partner for us to deliver the only solution in the market that enables CMTS Bypass and integrates content security for the cable market.”

VCAS for Cable IPTV combines VCAS for IPTV with key GoBackTV head-end components to secure IPTV streams over cable including:

  • GigaQAM® IP: the CMTS Bypass controller, which manages up to eight GigaQAMs
  • GigaQAM® 3000: an edgeQAM, multiplexer and DOCSIS Encapsulator
  • Application Server: system controller and service manager

“Because of Verimatrix’s leadership position in IPTV content security and its software-based solutions, the company is perfectly suited to bring the benefits of IPTV to the cable market,” said Dave Baran, CEO of GoBackTV. “Combining our pioneering CMTS Bypass technology with separable content security provides a considerable competitive edge for cable operators that want to reduce their reliance on legacy cable suppliers and move into the new world of IP-based pay-TV services.”

As part of their global OEM agreement, Verimatrix is offering the integrated GoBackTV solution under the Verimatrix brand. Verimatrix will also provide installation, training and support on a global basis.