Brazil's NET Serviços selects Pace to deliver new HD set-top-box

Monday, July 20th, 2009
Pace plc logo

NET Serviços de Comunicação S.A. (Bovespa: NETC3 and NETC4; NASDAQ: NETC; and Latibex: XNET), Latin America’s largest multi-service cable company, has selected Pace plc (LSE:PIC) to deliver a new high definition (HD) capable set-top-box as part of its ongoing push towards a fully HD, digitised customer base.

The low environmental impact (LEI) box uses Nagra and OpenTV middleware to deliver content securely over the cable network and has been designed within the framework of Pace’s own ‘Design for Environment’ standard. It will comply with the EU Code of Conduct, EnergyStar and MEPS guidelines for environmental production and operational energy consumption in the home.

Márcio Carvalho, products and services director at NET said: “The Brazilian pay-TV market is rapidly developing and the provision of high-definition content is increasingly becoming a service expectation in this part of the world as the market matures. This new deployment will dramatically increase our HD content reach and provides us with a platform to introduce additional entertainment services for subscribers. This means we can deliver an enhanced service to drive subscriber adoption and value for NET and our customers”.

NET Serviços’ integrated services include Pay TV (“NET”), Digital Video (“NET Digital”), High Definition Digital Video (“NET Digital HD”), high definition DVR (“NET Digital HD Max), bi-directional broadband internet access (“NET Vírtua”) and voice (“NET Fone”). Pace has previously worked with NET, providing an SD capable box to millions of consumers across Brazil. This latest deployment will be NET’s next significant box rollout as the company moves towards a premium offer for its subscribers.

Hervé Matthieu, VP sales at Pace said, “NET has the greatest reach of any cable operator in this market and the deployment of our HD-capable set top is a landmark step forward in driving HD penetration in the region. This new STB will improve NET’s ability to deliver new and innovative services to its subscribers, allowing them to take full advantage of the best that TV today can offer. We’re delighted to have been selected ahead of our competitors and we look forward to our continued partnership with NET in the future.”