Irdeto Secures Deal in China For Two Million Smart Cards

Jilin Provincial Network signs an agreement for two million smart cards for its digital migration project

Beijing, China — Irdeto, the proven expert in content security for digital TV, IPTV and mobile networks, has signed an agreement for two million smart cards from China’s Jilin Provincial Network. The agreement to provide two million smart cards, which will support the cable TV operator’s digital migration project, is the largest for Irdeto to date.

Jilin Provincial Network has three million registered subscribers in its cable TV network. It provides cable TV services to subscribers from all the cities and municipalities within the Jilin Province in China. According to a recent report by the Jilin Government, finalization of digital migration for 600,000 subscribers is one of eight key enhancements which will be implemented by the Government.

Jilin is an existing customer of Irdeto’s Digital TV Solution, a platform-independent CA system which allows operators to scale their subscriber base to millions while ensuring content and revenue protection. The latest large scale order also marks the first VOD (video on demand) CA deal for Irdeto in China. Under the agreement, the two million smart cards will be delivered over the next two and a half years.

“Jilin is one of four provincial cable TV operators in China to have consolidated its network within the whole province. Going forward, it is important that we partner a CA vendor who is able to provide us with a mature and technologically-advanced solution, proven expertise and a strong track record in customer service as we embark on large-scale digital migration,” said Wang Shengjie, General Manager of Jilin Provincial Networks. “Irdeto’s successful rollout of digital migration projects, its established customer base of 300 pay TV operators worldwide, and its record of uncompromised smart cards for the past six years attest to its ability to meet our requirements.”

“Irdeto is committed to working closely with Jilin Provincial Network to ensure the success of its digital migration project,” said Graham Kill, CEO of Irdeto.”This agreement enhances Irdeto’s position in the Chinese CA market and provides anotheropportunity for our media business experience to be shared with Jilin, one of the pioneers in China’s digitization of the market. The inclusion of VOD integrated together with CA in this first implementation of its kind is a demonstration of our technological leadership.”

China has 140 million cable subscribers as at 2006, and the number is expected to grow to 184 million by 2011, according to research estimates by Media Partners Asia. The number of digital cable TV subscribers is expected to grow from 10 million to 61 million over the same period.