Seoul, Korea – May 28, 2004 – Alticast, the primary DVB-MHP contractor for Shenzhen Topway Video Communication Co. Ltd. (formerly known as Shenzhen Cable TV), announced that it has recently passed all of the Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) for the implementation of MHP-based interactive TV services by the Chinese cable operator.
The successful conclusion of the SAT demonstrates that Topway Video and Alticast have completed the technical preparations required for DVB-MHP services, scheduled to be launched commercially in the near future. For the past year, Topway Video established an MHP Lab Test at its facilities using Alticast DVB-MHP solutions (head-end content management software, application development tools, set-top box middleware, and MHP applications) to extensively analyze the performance of the head-end system, various applications, and set-top boxes.
The next and final step toward commercial deployment is to conduct a soft launch within a pre-determined number of Shenzhen households to fine-tune the set-top boxes and evaluate the user responses to the new services. During the soft launch, Topway Video will test an Electronic Program Guide, Mosaic TV, Service Navigator, Interactive News and Weather, Short Messaging, NVOD, and Interactive Advertising applications. T-Government and T-Commerce services are also scheduled to be developed during the 2nd half of 2004. Chinese set-top box manufacturers, Coship and Maiwei, have integrated Alticast’s leading MHP middleware and will supply the set-top boxes for this project.
“After successfully overcoming various challenges in implementing our solutions with Topway Video, we anticipate that this deployment will act as a catalyst for further development opportunities throughout China ,” said Mr. Seung-Lim Jee, CEO of Alticast.
The technologically advanced city of Shenzhen acts as a gateway between mainland China and Hong Kong . As one of the nation’s 40 “Digital Broadcasting Project Cities”, the City of Shenzhen plays an important role in leading the technology developments throughout China .
For more information, please contact Mr. Jae Park at Alticast (jpark@alticast.com).
