Sofia Digital and Twise combine CI Plus 2.0 USB CAM with DVB-I

Sofia Digital and Twise explore DVB-I and CIPlus 2.0 USB CAM combination

Sofia Digital and Twise have worked together again to enrich the CIPlus 2.0 USB Conditional Access Module experience by triggering the services list installation from the CAM. Come and visit us to discuss the solution at Sofia Digital’s booth 1.D98 at IBC Amsterdam 2023!

DVB-I (Internet) is a new addition to the DVB family. DVB-I delivers services over the Internet to devices with broadband access. It can be combined with DVB-T(2), DVB-S and DVB-C, maintaining a similar user experience. The DVB-I Pilot running in Germany has successfully proven this. One of the outcomes of this Proof of Concept was related to the importance of flawless services list discovery.

By bringing a CIPlus 2.0 USB CAM into the equation, it can improve this requirement. An Operator Profile resource from the CAM IP service discovery can be used, linking to a DVB-I service list instead of a traditional OSDT. The TV will then perform a DVB SI-driven broadcast scan, and will then be able to use the DVB-I service list signaled by the CAM to create and install the hybrid service list of the operator or broadcaster.

Both Sofia Digital and Twise are working closely with the various stakeholders of the ecosystem to ensure that this solution will be deployed in the near future.

The DVB-I implementation, native or via an HbbTV App, combined with a USB CAM, will allow operators to provide their customers with a hybrid “set-top box like” user experience without the need for a separate set-top box device. With this approach, the operators will be able to save money and offer broadband and broadcast services, giving users the best of both worlds.

Xavier Teil, Twise co-founder, reports: “Sofia Digital and Twise are always trying to innovate and bring values to the current eco-system. Traditional Conditional Access remain predominant and require a hardware anchor. The CIPlus 2.0 USB CAM is a natural way to customize operator need (DVB-I and Pay-TV access) in the TV set.”

Juho Mäyränpää, Sales Director at Sofia Digital states: “Sofia Digital has been putting continuous effort on services for large operators and conditional access is a big part of those solutions. At IBC 2023, Sofia Digital demonstrates Application for Premium Operators, which includes CI+ and XCA conditional access solutions, among many other interesting features.”