Irdeto Delivers First CI+ CAM To The Marketplace

Monday, April 20th, 2009
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Leading Dutch cable television operator, Ziggo, first to deploy CI+ CAM to customers

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – NAB — Irdeto, a leading expert in content and business model protection solutions and services, today announced the Common Interface Plus (CI+) Conditional Access Module (CAM) will be commercially available in May 2009. In an industry first, Ziggo, the leading Dutch cable television operator is Irdeto’s inaugural customer to implement CI+, which will be used by up to one million digital subscribers.

Irdeto has implemented the features of CI+ as specified by the CI+ Forum, an industry standards body, comprised of four major television manufacturers, Sony, Panasonic, Philips and Samsung and Conditional Access Module manufacturers SmarDTV, Neotion and SMIT.

By adopting CI+ CAM, Irdeto’s customers who are operators, such as Ziggo, have the ability to give customers increased content protection providing a secure interface between the CAM and hosts, such as integrated digital TVs and common interface set-top boxes. The improved functionality of the user interface, makes interactivity and operator customization possible by leveraging the MHEG-5 resources in the TV, providing better operator control over CI+ device compatibility.

“The CI+ specification allows Irdeto to position itself in a way that can assist our customers in expanding their reach to a part of the consumer market that was previously inaccessible due to the lack of functionality and security offered by the version one specification of the Common Interface. It is especially suited to address the growing integrated digital television market,” said Doug Lowther, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Irdeto. “Irdeto is now able to offer features in the CAM that were previously available only in the domain of the STB manufacturer. We believe that operators will benefit through increased customer loyalty and increased revenues streams by offering more business model options.”

“Once we learned of the CI+ standard we commenced immediately in preparing ourselves for the first CI+ ready equipment,” said Marcel Nijhoff, CCO at Ziggo. “Now the new equipment is being introduced we have worked with Irdeto to ensure our subscribers are first to see CI+ benefits in the Netherlands.”

Irdeto will be exhibiting at NAB 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, April 20-23. Please visit booth #SU9117 to view live demonstrations and to meet with an Irdeto representative.