Smart Telecom Selects Verimatrix to Secure Advanced IPTV Offering

The Only Next Generation Network in Ireland Delivers Secure Triple Play Services with VCAS

SAN DIEGO and DUBLIN, Ireland — Verimatrix, setting the standard in content security technologies that enhance the value of pay-TV networks, today announced that leading Irish telecoms provider Smart Telecom has selected Verimatrix to secure its advanced interactive and Video-on-Demand (VoD) service in Ireland, called Smart Vision™. The Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS™) enables Smart Telecom to deliver secure, premium content throughout its digital video network.

Dublin-based Smart Telecom is a progressive operator in the Irish market that has built a next generation Carrier Ethernet network to offer triple play services – digital television, broadband and telephone. Its recent €2.5 million investment in IPTV will enable Smart Telecom to offer Smart Vision with more than 100 television and radio channels to 550,000 homes in. Based on figures from analyst firm Screen Digest, the European IPTV market is set to double in subscriptions from 2.9 million in 2006 to 5.6 million during 2007.

“The race for IPTV subscribers is on. So we must offer compelling services to attract and build consumer loyalty from the start,” said John Riordan, CEO, Smart Telecom. “Verimatrix’s vision for content security enables us to provide premium content today, and develop future business models that will continue to offer content when, where and how subscribers want it. We are thrilled to be working with the global leader for IPTV content security.”

Tom Munro, CEO Verimatrix, commented, “IPTV is and continues to be a highly competitive market and operators are under immense pressure to be able to differentiate themselves against competitors. Being able to provide a unique user experience has become a necessity and we our proud to be working with a leading operator that is dedicated to offer an enhanced entertainment experience for consumers.”

VCAS uses advanced cryptographic and e-commerce technologies proven on the Internet, including PKI and X.509 certificates, enabling a substantially higher level of content security than traditional smart card based systems. The company has recently been ranked the global leader in IPTV content security by two independent analyst firms, MRG and TelecomView.