NDS finds partner for Indian cable
Rose Major ©RapidTVNews | 31-03-2009
Pay-TV technology company NDS has established a partnership with Indian systems integrator HCL Infosystems aimed at encouraging smaller local cable operators to migrate to digital. The venture will offer “pre-integrated solutions” that are quick to implement.A growing consortium of vendors is co-operating to deliver a complete range of services to support developing digital cable TV in India, with the NDS/HCL partnership at the core, NDS said. HCL offers technology from a number of suppliers and vendors, including an end-to-end solution that offers the VideoGuard conditional access, MediaHighway middleware and NDS’ EPG products.
India has a plethora of small cable networks, most of whom would find the prices charged by NDS out of their budget range. However, these small operators in total represent a huge market. There are some 70 million cable subscribers in the country of which just around 6 million are digital, with forecasts of over 38 million digital cable subs in total by 2012 and 56 million by 2017.
While initially a large proportion of digital cable subs will belong to big MSOs such as NDS client Hathway, smaller operators will also seek to upgrade their networks over the next few years.
George Paul, Executive Vice President, HCL Infosystems Ltd., said: “With this tie-up we aim to offer technology solutions that are affordable, scalable and highly relevant to cable operators in India. We are sure that our collaboration with NDS, as part of our growing consortium of co-operating vendors, will significantly promote the growth of the Indian digital cable TV market.”
Sue Taylor, NDS’ Senior VP and General Manager Asia Pacific said” “With HCI and NDS, operators will get access to a choice of solutions. Our open standards-based solutions help operators keep costs down while offering a future roadmap that maximises choice.”
© Rapid TV News 2009
