Versatile New Scientific Atlanta Decoder Delivers Open Conditional Access Platform, Boosts Satellite Bandwidth

ATLANTA - Scientific Atlanta, a Cisco company, today announced a new Advanced Program Receiver (Model D9854TM) that will provide widespread flexibility to service providers through support of multiple conditional access (CA) systems and a streamlined path for delivering more video over existing satellite bandwidth using DVB-S2, the second-generation standard for digital video broadcasting via satellite.

The receiver’s bandwidth efficiency improvement is complemented by its support for third-party CA systems, as well as Scientific Atlanta’s PowerVu® CA system. The result is increased flexibility for potential applications of this cost-saving technology in content-distribution systems. CA systems control the ability of users to view programs such as those offered by cable television and pay-per-view operators.

The new receiver’s support for the DVB-S2 modulation standard, which expands the content carrying capacity of existing satellites by up to 30 percent, together with the bandwidth improvements of Scientific Atlanta’s MPEG-4 advanced video encoders provides programmers and broadcasters with powerful capabilities for the delivery of considerably more content over today’s satellite transponders.

“In addition to support for multiple CA systems, this receiver has bandwidth-efficiency improvements for just about everyone: DVB-S2, high definition, standard definition, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 advanced video coding and MPEG over IP outputs, all in one receiver,” said Dean Rockwell, vice president and general manager, Digital Media Networks at Scientific Atlanta, a Cisco company. “These multiple capabilities will be extremely valuable to help meet the increased demand for HD programming that is generating a bandwidth challenge for content owners and creators.”

The D9854 receiver will be on display by Scientific Atlanta (Booth #SU9613) at NAB 2007 in Las Vegas.