Latens Systems announced that the successful conclusion of scalability testing with IBM demonstrates that Latens software CA can protect Pay-TV and IPTV networks with set-top box populations over 4 million.

"I'm delighted that Latens has leveraged IBM industry standard technology to demonstrate the scalability and robustness of its Content & Revenue solution," said Warren Hart, vp, IBM Global Digital Media. "Latens CAS, coupled with IBM technology, will enable Pay-TV and IPTV operators to maximise their business and content packaging flexibility."

The test was designed, built and executed on IBM eServer xSeries systems at the IBM Network Transformation Centre at Montpellier, France, one of IBM's international facilities dedicated to working on complex customer integration projects, innovative applications, solutions and technologies. IBM is one of the few companies that has the knowledge and technology capabilities to build and manage the enormous test environment needed.

"The successful conclusion of the test process means that Latens is one of the only software pay-TV security vendors that can prove scalability to millions of set-top boxes. The Latens and IBM solution will provide customers with the performance and scalability they are asking for," said Andy Mathieson, Director, Latens.

The main objective of the test process was to validate performance and prove scalability of Latens CAS for a large scale, two-way cable/IP broadcast TV system. In order to achieve this, IBM used real data from a major, multi-region architecture, broadbandTV operator. Not only did the Latens technology scale, but over 4 million set-top-boxes (STB's) were provisioned, managed and tested over an extended period. The tests included the effects of hardware failure to prove resilience and recovery. Latens exceeded every target with ease, as can be seen in the following results summary of instructions issued by the subscriber management system and executed by Latens CAS.

Test                        Aim                  Result
Provisioning of subscribers 20,000 in 12 hours   20,000 in 35 minutes
Disconnecting subscribers   1,000 per day        1,000 in 68 seconds
Upgrading STB's             20,000 in 12 hours   20,000 in 18 minutes
Downgrading STB's           20,000 in 12 hours   20,000 in 18 minutes

About Latens Solutions

The Latens Content and Revenue Protection systems are designed for multi-channel cable TV, Video on Demand and IPTV systems. Latens CA is a next generation, standards compliant conditional access system which makes the most of the technical advantages created by innovative use of improvements in software security.

Latens CAS is differentiated from legacy CA systems by the following key features:

• Latens CAS is a pure software solution which replaces the proprietary smart cards or embedded set top solutions of traditional CA vendors with a downloadable CA system using innovative Secure Software Modules. This provides a more dynamic, secure anti-piracy strategy at a much lower cost.
• Latens have designed the system with the flexibility to support the diverse range of business models encountered in various digital cable and IPTV markets.
• Significant cost savings can be made in set top box costs due to reduced component complexity and simplified integration which lead to a wider and more competitive choice of vendors.
• The use of open standards and downloadable CA software ensures that the operator is no longer locked in to one CA supplier and can make the best choices for their business now and in the future.
• Latens CAS is technically and cost-effectively scalable from systems comprising hundreds of subscribers to large multi-million subscriber deployments.
• Latens CAS is a technically advanced solution that is already deployed and providing unsurpassed levels of security and flexibility. The system has been designed to maximize the revenue earned and retained by the operator.

This is a technically advanced solution that is already deployed and providing unsurpassed levels of security and flexibility. The system has been designed to maximize the revenue earned and retained by the operator.