Cable Technology Feature Article
September 08, 2009
Alcatel-Lucent to be the Network Integrator for du TV+
By Raju Shanbhag, TMCnet Contributor
The Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC (du) is planning to offer subscribers in its current fixed line areas with high-quality TV programming.
Along with this, the company also plans to deliver multimedia content services by Alcatel-Lucent.
Du announced its du TV+ service recently in its current fixed-line areas, thus taking TV viewing to the next level with several new features including HDTV. The company is currently working with other content providers to bring more HD channels into the UAE. With every du TV subscription viewers will receive the basic TV package that includes more than 130 channels.
This solution allows du to provide Microsoft’s Mediaroom, which powers services for more than 3 million subscribers worldwide and is the world’s most deployed IPTV (News - Alert) middleware according to data from Screen Digest. It provides features such as high definition channels, instant channel change and easy on screen Guide. Alcatel-Lucent (News - Alert) has also added its own applications such as FAQs to make this offering richer.
“This launch sets the stage for the convergence of the telecommunications and entertainment industries in the Middle East and gives du an important new tool to expand its relationship with its subscribers,” said Adolfo Hernandez, president of Alcatel-Lucent’s activities for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “The successful delivery of advanced entertainment service by a leading Middle Eastern operator such as du is a milestone for Alcatel-Lucent.”
The new IPTV service is based on Microsoft (News - Alert) Mediaroom middleware platform. When a customer subscribes to a Microsoft Mediaroom-powered TV service, he gets his favorite shows, channels, movies, and sports – all in digital and High-Definition (HD) picture quality. It also provides other features such as on-screen guide and advanced features like a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), Video on Demand (VOD), lightning-fast channel change, the ability to watch up to six channels at one time. Microsoft Mediaroom is already being used in over two million homes and is offered by many of the various telecom providers all over the world.
Along with this, the company also plans to deliver multimedia content services by Alcatel-Lucent.
Du announced its du TV+ service recently in its current fixed-line areas, thus taking TV viewing to the next level with several new features including HDTV. The company is currently working with other content providers to bring more HD channels into the UAE. With every du TV subscription viewers will receive the basic TV package that includes more than 130 channels.
This solution allows du to provide Microsoft’s Mediaroom, which powers services for more than 3 million subscribers worldwide and is the world’s most deployed IPTV (News - Alert) middleware according to data from Screen Digest. It provides features such as high definition channels, instant channel change and easy on screen Guide. Alcatel-Lucent (News - Alert) has also added its own applications such as FAQs to make this offering richer.
“This launch sets the stage for the convergence of the telecommunications and entertainment industries in the Middle East and gives du an important new tool to expand its relationship with its subscribers,” said Adolfo Hernandez, president of Alcatel-Lucent’s activities for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “The successful delivery of advanced entertainment service by a leading Middle Eastern operator such as du is a milestone for Alcatel-Lucent.”
The new IPTV service is based on Microsoft (News - Alert) Mediaroom middleware platform. When a customer subscribes to a Microsoft Mediaroom-powered TV service, he gets his favorite shows, channels, movies, and sports – all in digital and High-Definition (HD) picture quality. It also provides other features such as on-screen guide and advanced features like a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), Video on Demand (VOD), lightning-fast channel change, the ability to watch up to six channels at one time. Microsoft Mediaroom is already being used in over two million homes and is offered by many of the various telecom providers all over the world.
Raju Shanbhag is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Raju’s articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Patrick Barnard
