Verimatrix announces that it is providing the security solution for the world’s first fully integrated IPTV triple-play deployment in Qatar. This new service from Qtel offers voice, broadband Internet and MPEG4-AVC encoded IPTV over its upgraded infrastructure to subscribers across the state of Qatar. Verimatrix’s Video Content Authority System will protect MPEG4-AVC data streams through advanced encryption to prevent unauthorized access or piracy and to provide premium content suppliers with confidence that their revenue streams are secure.

In order to obtain premium content such as sports coverage and new-release movies required to attract IPTV subscribers, operators must implement advanced security measures to prevent content piracy and unauthorized access to the service. Verimatrix VCAS is built on the principles of Public Key Infrastructure and X.509 digital certificates to ensure the most robust and secure service possible.

Fahad Bin Jassim Al -Thani COO Qtel, commented, “This IPTV deployment has set Qatar at the forefront of the digital television revolution. The two-way nature of the IP network allows us to meet the evolving expectations of our customers and be the first to offer new services and levels of interactivity. Protection of our service is crucial in both securing content initially and safeguarding our investment and revenue streams.”

The deployment was coordinated by Al Falak and sourced components of the end-to-end system from a number of companies. “Most IPTV service deployments are an exercise in collaboration between a number of companies from suppliers of the head-end and middleware to set-top box manufacturers,” said Steve Oetegenn, chief sales and marketing officer, Verimatrix. “We have developed a broad partner ecosystem to ensure that our content security solution integrates seamlessly with any combination of suppliers and video compression formats. This pre-established interoperability is key to reduce the time to market of an IPTV service, thus allowing operators to gain a return on their investment more rapidly.”