Verimatrix Secures DVB-S2 Digital TV Service for the Wananchi Group

International Datacasting Corporation and Verimatrix Team to Deliver Direct-to-Home Broadcast to Zuku Subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands — IBC2010 — Stand #4.B84 — Verimatrix, the specialist in securing and enhancing revenue for multi-screen digital TV services around the globe, today announced that the Wananchi Group, Africa’s pioneering provider of triple-play (broadband, multichannel cable television and voice telephony), has selected the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS™) for DVB to secure satellite TV services for the Zuku brand in Kenya. VCAS for DVB has been integrated with the direct-to-home (DTH) TV system being implemented by International Datacasting Corporation (IDC) [TSX:IDC], a global leader in providing advanced solutions for the distribution of broadband multimedia content.

The Wananchi Group, currently the only triple-play operator in East Africa, required a flexible and robust revenue security partner to protect the growing volume of premium content it has been acquiring and developing to complement its existing channel line up as part of its Zuku consumer brand. The one-way VCAS for DVB security solution is a software-based approach to conditional access (CA) and digital rights management (DRM) without the expense and vulnerabilities of smart cards. IDC is the system integrator and project manager for this rollout over several planned phases.

“In order to effectively compete in this market, we have invested in best-of-breed technology that enables us to offer exclusive video-on-demand and pay-per-view services plus a line up of high definition channels,” said Richard Bell of the Wananchi Group. “Verimatrix’s security solutions were the next step in our strategy to ensure we are securing our existing revenue and enabling business models for future revenue.”

“IDC has been a great partner to deliver exciting new services for Wananchi in East Africa,” said Steve Oetegenn, chief sales and marketing officer, Verimatrix. “Our flexible, software-based security solution for one-way satellite systems helps keep Zuku at the forefront of the African pay-TV market.”