ASTER Chooses End-to-End Solution from NDS to Provide Next Generation Digital Cable TV in Poland

Polish triple play operator, ASTER, chooses a suite of technology solutions from NDS to enhance and grow its digital TV services


LONDON – January, 2008 – NDS, the leading provider of technology solutions for digital pay-TV, today announced it has been selected by ASTER, a leading provider of media and communication services in Poland, to provide the technology for its next generation cable TV service. It will secure ASTER’s digital television platform and will allow the company to launch new services including integrated digital video recorders (DVRs) and Video On Demand (VOD).

NDS is providing ASTER with VideoGuard® conditional access, MediaHighway® middleware, a customized electronic program guide (EPG), and a suite of interactive technologies - all top-ranking solutions in the global Pay-TV industry. NDS solutions will allow ASTER to offer its subscribers advanced services that maximize viewer choice. ASTER will also have the flexibility to introduce future enhancements including interactive applications and other services.

VideoGuard CA and DRM currently protect over 78.6 million active digital set-top boxes (STBs) worldwide. There are more than 69.9 million NDS middleware clients deployed worldwide, and NDS technology powers over 8.8 million DVRs.

NDS has a proven track record in the Pay-TV industry and helps operators to launch services that attract and retain subscribers. NDS is now implementing a platform for ASTER that will deliver enhanced value added services, in a secure and robust environment.

“We found NDS solutions to be the best for our business strategy to deliver the next generation services that we require,” said Marek Bury, Strategy and Development Director of ASTER “NDS shared its roadmap and vision for the broadcast industry, and we are confident that we will have the flexibility to provide our viewers with the industry’s best digital TV services.”

ASTER is the largest cable TV provider in Warsaw, Poland’s capital, and the fourth largest operator in the country. The NDS portfolio will allow ASTER to migrate analog subscribers faster to digital TV. Its subscriber base includes 370,000 pay-TV subscribers, of whom 55,000 have digital services. ASTER also provides services to 130,000 internet subscribers and over 50,000 telephony subscribers. ASTER will begin rolling out new services in 2008. It plans to offer subscribers a choice of new set-top boxes provided by Kaon Media, including a High Definition DVR.

“ASTER has a solid vision for the future and has set itself very aggressive growth targets,” said Jeremy Maddocks, NDS Business Development Director for Central and Eastern Europe. “ASTER recognizes that in a competitive market such as Poland, it is critical to offer industry-leading services to build a loyal customer base. And this has to be supported with a reliable infrastructure and security.”
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