Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) announced today that it has been selected by Measat Broadcast Network Systems (Astro), Malaysia’s largest pay TV operator, to deliver an end-to-end multimedia solution to support the delivery of the first television service optimized for SmartPhones in the country.
To support the new service, Alcatel-Lucent has deployed a multi-screen solution enabling Astro to enhance its Astro B.player smartphone service. The service allows Astro’s subscribers with an iPhone, a Blackberry, a Java-based or a Symbian-based Smartphone to enjoy premium services such as live TV and video on demand clips.
Taking advantage of the current 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, subscribers can touch, flip and scroll through the interactive multimedia features to follow the progression and games of their favorite teams either in LIVE, or video on demand from anywhere using their Smartphones over the Maxis network.
Astro currently broadcasts 125 pay TV channels across Malaysia to over 2.9 million subscribers in multiple languages. Using Alcatel-Lucent’s solution, Astro will distribute its multimedia services beyond the Maxis network and will also deliver a unique environment for premium sponsorships.
Eric Foo, Astro’s vice president of New Media Business said: “At Astro, we are committed to continuously enrich the lives of our customers by offering the best content along with the optimum technology to deliver that content on the customer’s chosen device. The Astro B.player is part of our Astro B.yond next generation offering and is a testament of our continuous efforts in bringing technology-enhanced services that offer convenience and flexibility for Malaysians. We understand that Malaysians are increasingly more mobile and that we no longer access information and entertainment through one screen. The Astro B.player application meets this new trend as it allows Malaysians to watch the FIFA World Cup 2010 on the Astro platform while on the move.”
Alcatel-Lucent’s innovative solution helps Astro build a network which will intelligently deliver new multimedia services to the changing consumer entertainment demand on mobile screens. The solution brings flexibility in supporting new services and devices and enables seamless connections between the various multimedia delivery systems available today, allowing service providers to reduce the time, complexity and cost inherent in creating services for the various screens it supports.
“This project is a groundbreaking achievement for Alcatel-Lucent as it epitomizes the creative use of our multimedia solutions to introduce an entirely new set of services and the associated revenue that comes with it. Our multimedia solutions strategy helps create new opportunities for everyone in the digital media value chain,” saidRajeev Singh-Molares, president of Alcatel-Lucent’s activities in Asia-Pacific.
As part of this agreement Alcatel-Lucent is leveraging its extensive experience in multimedia by providing a full suite of comprehensive services including network design, integration, installation and commissioning of the system, as well as design of the end-user interface and client and WAP portal customization.
