Magnet selects Inuk's igloo for PCTV solution to broadband and FTTH IPTV customers

igloo virtual Set-Top Box will extend Magnet’s IPTV platform from TV/STB to the PC and Mac

IBC, Amsterdam, Booth IP 313 — Inuk Networks today announced that Magnet Networks, the Irish telecommunications provider, has selected Inuk’s igloo virtual Set-Top Box to extend Magnet Entertainment’s IPTV service to PC and Macs. Launched on September 9th, Magnet Entertainment’s PC service provides customers on the Magnet broadband network with a range of free television channels, expanding over the next few months to include pay channels and video on demand content.

Magnet Networks is a pioneer of super-fast broadband in Ireland, with 39 unbundled ADSL2+ exchanges nationwide and the largest fibre network in Ireland. Magnet Entertainment is the residential arm of the company, and offers Ireland’s fastest broadband service at 50Mbps, along with digital TV and telephone services.

Inuk’s igloo virtual Set-Top Box is designed to emulate the operation and user interface of a standard television set-top-box (STB) on a Windows or Apple-based PC platform. igloo delivers all the features and functions of any IPTV set-top-box, regardless of browser, codec or conditional access (CA) system. igloo is already used by over 50,000 subscribers to Inuk Network’s own Freewire IPTV deployment in university halls of residence in the UK, Ireland and Canada.

“We have been looking to extend our service from the living room TV set to PCs and Macs around the home for some time but this type of multi-room solution has typically meant significant investment in new technology,” said Mark Kellett, CEO of Magnet Networks. “Inuk’s igloo virtual Set-Top Box allows us to make the leap to the PC without having to deploy new streaming technology, middleware or conditional access”

Marcus Liassides, CEO of Inuk Networks, added: “We are very excited to have Magnet as our first live igloo customer deployment, beyond our own Freewire platform. The reaction from IPTV operators around the globe to the concept of a true virtual Set-Top Box has been phenomenal and we are also partnering with many middleware and CA vendors who also appreciate the potential of an easy-to-deploy PC product for their existing customer deployments.”