Digital TV Labs Offers Bespoke Test Suites For CI Plus Operators

LONDON, UK — Digital TV Labs, which provides independent, specialised conformance products and services for DVB-based markets, has announced the availability of bespoke conformance regimes for operators deploying the new CI Plus security standard. This allows them to develop a cost-effective programme for receiver interoperability testing and therefore foster a vibrant retail model.

Already adopted by over 20 operators, the CI Plus standard allows operators and broadcasters to secure pay-TV content on digital TV receivers via the Common Interface (CI) and Common Access Module (CAM) allowing third parties to provide services over networks.

As the official CI Plus test house, Digital TV Labs’ unique turnkey Evora iSuite Operator test framework, including the Digital TV Labs CI Plus Test CAM, can deliver to operators a world-class bespoke receiver conformance testing facility within very short timescales at minimum cost. By customising the vast base of existing DVB-C/T/S receiver test cases and test streams, and working in partnership with clients, Digital TV Labs can build a complete test regime specific to each operator’s particular needs with indepth test coverage in less than a month.

“Typically operators procure, test and tightly control a limited number of dedicated set-top-boxes to ensure a high quality user experience to protect their brand, minimise churn and keep support costs low,” says Keith Potter, CEO, Digital TV Labs. “In a CI Plus horizontal retail market with limited control, they need to develop white list, logo programmes and conformance policies to guarantee interoperability. With a large number of iDTV and other receivers now supporting CI Plus as standard, and a complex supply chain of semiconductor, middleware and ODM vendors, an operator’s existing test resources can be quickly overwhelmed.”

Digital TV Labs is the expert on CI Plus conformance regimes and can advise operators on building rigorous, but practical test specifications and policies.