January 2010

SURBHI OFFERS NDS CAS FOR SMALL NETWORKS

Small & medium sized cable TV networks can now initiate plans to go digital.

A couple of months ago the I&B Ministry declared license norms for setting up new HITS platforms. These will provide digital Cable TV from the SKY, to even small cable TV networks. However, in a HITS solution, the cable network becomes a franchise of the HITS platform.

HIGH CAS & SMS COST

A major inhibitor for small & medium sized cable networks to set up their own digital headend has been the exorbitant cost of a Conditional Access System (CAS) along with a Subscriber Management System (SMS), of international standards. A secure CAS system is essential to safeguard the cable network's and Broadcasters' interest by ensuring that consumers do not gain unauthorised access to pay TV channels. Until now, smaller cable networks were required to pay an inordinately large sum of money for an SMS system that far exceeded their requirements based on meager subscriber numbers.

RETAIL CAS & SMS SOLUTION

In December 2009, Delhi based Surbhi Broadband was appointed by NDS as its authorised reseller for the Indian market. Surbhi Broadband will promote and sell NDS' VideoGuard CA, MediaHighway set top box software and Electronic Programme Guides (EPG) in India. Surbhi will also manage the headend integration for customers and supply NDS smartcards.
Surbhi Broadband plans to set up a centralised, secure CAS + Subscriber Management System and offer small & medium sized cable networks, a proportionate, retail solution based on the actual number of subscribers that they service. The small cable networks need to connect to Surbhi Broadband's centralised facility using low cost, internet leased lines. Even if there is a disruption in the leased lines, all authorised STBs will continue to function normally. Only new STBs will be authorised when the leased line connection is reestablished.

Each small / medium cable network pays an annual fee based on its actual number of NDS enabled pay TV STBs deployed in their networks. As these networks grow, they have the option to install their independent NDS system and migrate out of Surbhi Broadbabnd's centralised facility.

Surbhi Broadband GM sales Piyush Mishra said, "With this partnership we aim to offer solutions that are affordable, scalable and highly relevant to small and medium sized cable operators in India. We trust that our collaboration with NDS and the availability of cost effective solutions will help promote the growth of the Indian digital cable TV market."

NDS claims that its VideoGuard currently protects over 111 million digital devices around the world. NDS MediaHighway set-top box software has been deployed in over 128 million devices worldwide. NDS has a large development facility in Bangalore, and can provide customised, user friendly menus in any Indian language.

NDS Asia Pacific SVP and GM Sue Taylor said, "With Surbhi Broadband and NDS, operators will get access to reliable, hardware and software solutions for digital cable TV platforms and services all under one roof. This will help our customers as it means that digital TV deployment becomes easier and more cost effective."

TURN KEY SOLUTIONS

For more than a decade, Surbhi Broadband; as a cable TV equipment manufacturer and supplier; has been providing solutions to Indian cable TV networks. Over this period, Surbhi Broadband has developed an in-depth understanding of the Indian cable and broadband markets and developed expertise in hardware and software systems integration. This enables Surbhi to offer turnkey solutions including a build+ operate+maintain option, for the entire CATV network.

Now Surbhi offers Cable TV networks a complete Digital headend + CAS & SMS solutions from NDS + NDS enabled digital STBs & SMART cards. These solutions can be obtained individually or in a package, with full payment in Indian Rupees.

OTHERS TO FOLLOW ?

The NDS-Surbhi Broadband partnership is a much needed initiative for the fragmented Indian Cable TV market. There is little doubt that similar CAS & SMS platforms will also be established by other international players, making their solutions accessible by small and medium sized cable TV networks, who have limited working capital and other resources. n