Korea's Jeju Broadcasting Selects SCM Microsystems and Conax to Provide OpenCable CableCARD Solution for Digital Cable TV
February 25 2005 - 2:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
Korea's Jeju Broadcasting Selects SCM Microsystems and Conax to
Provide OpenCable CableCARD Solution for Digital Cable TV FREMONT,
Calif., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SCM Microsystems, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SCMM; Prime Standard: SMY) today announced that KCTV Jeju
Broadcasting of Jeju Island, Korea has selected SCM's CableCARD(TM)
removable security module, incorporating the conditional access
(CA) system from Conax AS. In making this selection, Jeju
Broadcasting becomes the first independent CATV system operator to
build a digital broadcasting system. "Jeju Broadcasting selected
SCM because its proven, competitive CableCARD solution enables us
to immediately deploy the required OpenCable(TM) technology," said
Mr. S.Y. Kong, Chairman of Jeju Broadcasting. "With SCM's and
Conax's help, we hope to become a model for successful DTV
conversions of independent cable operators and trigger other single
system operators to make the same decision." Jeju Broadcasting's
OpenCable rollout involves 100,000 units with 30,000 to 50,000
expected for 2005. Jeju, which has more than 160,000 customers, has
test broadcast 100 digital channels since November 1 of last year.
In the second phase starting April 15, 2005, Jeju plans to add
other digital services such as an electronic program guide, video
on demand and music channels. Robert Schneider, chief executive
officer of SCM Microsystems, said, "The Jeju Broadcasting
deployment in Korea uses SCM technology that is based on years of
experience working with the OpenCable standard. We believe that
Jeju and other operators will reap the benefits of the open
technology and the greater choices these modules bring to their
customers." Raza Ansari, VP Asia for Conax, added, "This agreement
with Jeju Broadcasting positions our companies to achieve a rapid
deployment together, and this will pave the way for further
deployments of our CableCARD solution to operators throughout
Korea." SCM and Conax have worked closely with the
Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) of Korea to achieve
final compliance with the Korean OpenCable standard for digital
cable television broadcasts. The Digital TV Market in Korea The
Korean government will be deploying digital cable television to
between six and nine million households in Korea over the next
several years. In November 2001, the Korean government selected
OpenCable as the technical standard for securing the country's
digital cable TV broadcasts. By adopting this open standards-based
broadcast security model, the Korean government hopes to create a
digital television industry that is both competitive for consumers
and profitable for operators. OpenCable was originally developed by
Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. (CableLabs(R)) for the North
American cable TV market and subsequently was adapted for use in
Korea. Although the Korean security module is based on the same
OpenCable CableCARD interface specification used in the U.S., the
Korean security modules will not operate with U.S. OpenCable
devices, or vice versa, for regional security purposes. About SCM
Microsystems SCM Microsystems is a leading supplier of solutions
that open the Digital World by enabling people to securely access
digital content and services. The company develops, markets and
sells its smart card reader technology for network and physical
access and conditional access modules for secure digital TV
decryption to OEM customers in the government, financial,
enterprise and broadcasting markets worldwide. Global headquarters
are in Fremont, California, with European headquarters in Ismaning,
Germany. For additional information, visit the SCM Microsystems web
site at http://www.scmmicro.com/. About Conax Conax AS is a leading
supplier of state-of-the-art, highly innovative solutions for smart
card-based conditional access, security and payment solutions.
Conax is a globally oriented player, with a solid base of clients
in 50 countries. Their headquarters are in Oslo, Norway, with
subsidiaries in India and USA and sales and support offices in
Singapore, China, Brazil, Korea, Pakistan, Germany and Canada.
Conax is ISO 9001 and BS7799 certified. For more information please
visit http://www.conax.com/. About KCTV Jeju Broadcasting KCTV
(Korea CableTV) Jeju Broadcasting is a sole and pioneering CATV
operator in Jeju Island with 160,000 subscribers. Located in a
world famous Free International City with high rising tourism, it
may well have higher potential for VOD and other digitized
services, and is attracting keen interest and observation by policy
making organs and other CATV operators. NOTE: OpenCable and
CableCARD are trademarks of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.
(CableLabs). All other trade names are either trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective holders. DATASOURCE: SCM
Microsystems, Inc. CONTACT: Manfred Mueller of SCM Microsystems,
Inc., +49 89 95 95 5140, or ; or Deb Montner of Montner &
Associates, +1-203-226-9290, or , for SCM Microsystems, Inc. Web
site: http://www.scmmicro.com/
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