Pay TV operator licenses Irish DVB-H technology


15 Jan 2008

Dublin-based Silicon & Software Systems (S3) has announced a deal that will see its onHandTVTM Software Development Kit (SDK) for DVB-H licensed to further develop African pay-TV operator MultiChoice’s Mobile Broadcast TV services.

MultiChoice is Africa’s leading pay television operator with a presence in 47 countries and over two million subscribers.

MultiChoice’s newest business unit, DStv Mobile, is currently investigating and trialing DVB-H technology in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

“We are very proud to have been selected by MultiChoice to provide our expertise and software IP to enhance their entry into the interactive Mobile TV services arena,” commented Philip Brennan, vice-president consumer systems, S3. “S3 is continuing to deliver on its strategy of enabling broadcast and mobile operators to transition from their existing services to converged interactive services across multiple platforms and we are extremely pleased to be adding such a prestigious company as MultiChoice to our client list”.

“MultiChoice continues to operate at the forefront of technology and is focused on adding significant value for subscribers across Africa,” said Linda Vermass, CEO, DStv Mobile, MultiChoice’s Mobile TV business unit. “The delivery of our premium content via the Mobile Broadcast TV platform offers an exciting challenge to us, as well as an enormous market opportunity.

“We have chosen a world-class partner in S3 to help us address some of these challenges and ultimately enable us to support interactive Mobile Broadcast TV services to our growing customer base,” she added.

S3 is taking part in the Irish trade mission to South Africa, which is headed up by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD.

By Niall Byrne