Eutelsat shows ‘smart LNB’ in action at CabSat Dubai

Monday, March 10th, 2014
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Eutelsat shows ‘smart LNB’ in action at CabSat Dubai with delivery of encrypted video content to mobile devices in the home

DUBAI; PARIS — Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL) is unveiling more of the unique features of its “smart LNB” to the broadcast community at this year’s CabSat Dubai. Leveraging the ability of the “smart LNB” to provide a satellite return link for Digital Rights Management, a live demo will show for the first time how encrypted content can be securely viewed in the home on fixed and mobile screens, enabling users beyond terrestrial networks to have a full Connected TV experience by satellite.

The “smart LNB” is a low-cost device that bundles DTH reception of TV channels with a narrowband satellite return channel for short transmissions of IP packets. As such, it opens the door for broadcasters to operate their own ecosystem of linear television and connected TV services direct by satellite. For end users, it uses the coaxial cabling of existing installations to connect to a home IP network and is compatible with connected TVs, tablets and other IP-compatible devices as well as legacy DVB-S2 receivers.

The demo shows how the “smart LNB” can serve broadcasters for effective rights clearing of protected content. For viewers wanting to access encrypted content stored in their set-top-box or to watch an encrypted channel live, they can use a remote control or IP-enabled mobile device to send a clearance request to a Digital Rights Management server via the “smart LNB”. Once the keys are exchanged users can view the content on any device.

Eutelsat has teamed up with industry experts for the Dubai demo, including ATEME, that provides video compression solutions to broadcast and telecom industries, Quadrille, the content delivery specialists providing QuadriFast, a leading Push VOD solution, Dune HD, a global leader in high-performance digital media players, NXP Software that produces secured media players for mobile devices, HDMI dongles and set top boxes, Broadpeak that designs and develops Content Delivery Network solutions; and Verimatrix, a specialist in securing and enhancing revenue for global digital video operators.

Eutelsat is developing the specifications for three versions of the “smart LNB” – Ka/Ku, Ku/Ku, C/Ku to increase options for broadcasters across its satellites. It will be ready to serve large scale pilots later in 2014