Amino, leading IPTV software and consumer premises equipment provider, today confirmed that it has worked with Canal Digital to bring IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) services to subscribers within the Nordic region. Canal Digital deployed AmiNET110 IPTV set-top boxes to subscriber homes to offer full IPTV services by the end of 2005.

Canal Digital already leads the market for satellite and cable television services and the company has been quick to recognise the potential for IPTV to help achieve the company's vision of every individual receiving a personalised TV offering. "We aim not only to offer our customers unrivalled TV programming but to enhance their entertainment experience," explained Terje Storhaug, CTO at Canal Digital. "IPTV is a growing industry which will provide our customers with more flexibility when deciding how they wish to receive digital television. Amino is one of the suppliers we have chosen as partners in this market due to the quality of their product as well as their good reputation."

The service roll-out will cater initially to subscribers who will be able to receive popular Canal Digital content over DSL-enabled telephone infrastructure and FTTH (fibre to the home). Subscribers to the IPTV service will also be able to order individual movies or games which can then be downloaded and enjoyed instantly.

The AmiNET110 set-top box is based on Amino's award-winning compact design and is compatible with the MPEG-2 video compression standard, the most common format for digital IPTV content today. The unit features an Ethernet input and flexible audio/video output with a USB interface for game controllers. The unit is also compatible with the Coaxsys and ReadyLinks SmartFoot(TM) adapters which can be used to stream video to other televisions around the home using existing coax cable infrastructure, reducing the costs for operators in deploying IPTV.

Roy Kirsopp, VP Global Sales Amino commented, "IPTV is starting to enter its stride as more service providers around the world realise its potential for increasing customer loyalty at the same time as growing revenue through additional, expandable service offerings. Canal Digital has been quick to recognise this trend and we expect this deployment to be the first of many in this region as more companies consider it a viable competitor technology to cable and satellite services."