ATCi announces that it has teamed up with leading IPTV solution provider Digisoft to provide a cost effective, highly scalable, end-to-end IPTV solution for IP network operators. The comprehensive IP solution includes all the pieces needed for an IPTV video headend including the Simulsat receive multibeam antenna, a satellite subsystem and MPEG-4 advanced compression. Digisoft provides the Application Management Server as well as a flexible and dynamic program guide on a Java Set Top Box. This highly scalable end-to-end IPTV solution is targeted toward US Tier 2 and Tier 3 Telcos. The solution, which includes Digisoft's head-end Next Generation Service Delivery Platform 'DigiHost', is coupled with a new low-cost Java Set Top Box. The STB runs a dynamic and customizable Interactive Program Guide, Video On Demand interface, Network Personal Video Recorder interface and application launcher with a variety of interactive applications.

"With our partnership with Digisoft, ATCi will be able to deliver cost-effective, highly customizable IPTV Ecosystems to our customers" said Eric Luttermoser of ATCi. "The Digisoft platform will allow us to create custom solutions and applications, deliver targeted relevant advertising to consumers, and create a compelling product offering which will increase ARPU and drive customer satisfaction."

"This is a critical transition point in the IPTV industry, the first generation of IPTV was all about delivery of MPEG2 standard definition video, the new generation of IPTV is much more exciting, marked by the roll out of MPEG4 high definition video, telco's and broadband operators are now looking much more closely at the additional services that can be layered on top of the video offering, not just to increase ARPU but to differentiate their service offering from that of cable and satellite operators. We are very pleased with our global partnership with ATCi, who are a strategic part of our channel strategy at this very exciting time in the industry," said Fintan Mc Kiernan, SVP Business Development, Digisoft.tv"

Packaged and priced aggressively, the IPTV solution expedites time-to-market with a lower overall cost and contains innovative features for demanding subscribers now and in the future.