Irdeto

Irdeto B.V. (previously Irdeto Access B.V.), in short Irdeto, is a private, limited liability global software security and media technology company with dual headquarters in Hoofddorp, Netherlands (near Amsterdam) and Beijing. The company develops end-to-end software security, content management and customer care and billing solutions for the delivery, protection and monetization of digital content in digital TV, IPTV and mobile environments. Irdeto launched the first commercial use of smart cards, the first IPTV deployment in North America and the world’s first mobile pay-TV conditional access deployed in South Korea.
Irdeto’s technology personalizes, authenticates and securely transfers content on platforms and devices such as Android-based smartphones, iPhone, iPad, GoogleTV, Xbox and PlayStation. Products include smart cards, software-based pay-TV conditional access systems, chip- and software-based security technology, and broadband technology for the secure management, preparation and distribution of digital content. The products are applied to protect mobile media and TV content that is consumed over a variety of standards-based environments like Broadcast TV, S-DMB, T-DMB, DVB-H, and are also used to protect content already present on a device (like mobile phones that are compliant with OMA 1, OMA 2 or devices that apply other types of digital rights management). Additionally, Irdeto produces software and data center security offerings, customer care and billing solutions (like business support systems) and middleware for set-top box software.
Irdeto is a unit of media group Naspers (JSE: NPN), which also includes a conglomerate of pay-TV sister companies in Africa, Europe and Asia. Irdeto's customers include cable and satellite pay television operators, content owners and distributors, software developers, consumer electronics manufacturers and privileged account administrators.
The company currently has 1000 employees and offices in 25 countries and reports that 500 companies spanning the cable, satellite, mobile TV, telecom, terrestrial and enterprise industries use its technology. Irdeto holds an estimated 150 patent families in various stages of prosecution, which currently involves approximately 900 active individual patent files in various countries.
Irdeto developed diversified, renewable security and monetization technologies to assist customers in the distribution of broadcast /broadband/mobile entertainment and in preventing the unauthorized use of digital assets found in e-stores and on consumer devices. In February 2011, the company launched ActiveCloak for Media, the first dynamic security solution to protect and monetize high-value digital entertainment assets throughout their entire lifecycle and across a range of consumer devices.
History
The company was founded in 1969 by radio engineer Pieter den Toonder in Dordrecht, Netherlands. The company name is a contraction of Ir.—the Dutch abbreviation for a university-educated engineer—and the founder's surname.
In 2004, Irdeto and its Seattle, Washington-based mobile DRM business partner Lockstream Corporation together launched one of the first IPTV deployments in North America. In 2005, Irdeto acquired certain assets and liabilities of Lockstream though exact terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
In 2006, Irdeto acquired the assets, customers and employees of competitor Philips CryptoTec (makers of the Cryptoworks product line). CryptoTec had over 100 customers and more than 50 employees. The purchase price was not disclosed.
In 2007, Irdeto acquired privately held content security firm Cloakware for $72.5 million. Formerly an Irdeto partner, Cloakware software and data center security technology is used for fighting fraud and piracy over digital video and IP networks. Also in 2007, Irdeto acquired IDway SAS, a Paris-based middleware vendor and former Irdeto business partner that developed open software for digital TV consumer devices. The acquisition helped expand Irdeto’s integrated offerings for set top box (STB) manufacturers. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Irdeto opened its Beijing headquarters in 2007. Irdeto now has the highest market share of any international player in Asia, with 17% of the Chinese market for conditional access and 64% share in South East Asia.
In 2008, Irdeto acquired Entriq, a pay media company founded in 2000 by Irdeto employees. With Entriq’s acquisition of DayPort in 2008 prior to its own acquisition, Irdeto expanded its offerings to include content management and distribution of digital media over the Internet. Also that year, Irdeto acquired IBS Interprit, a provider of software for customer care and billing.
Academic and Research Partnerships
Irdeto has partnerships with academic institutions around the world. The company conducts workshops, serves as guest lecturer and editorial contributor, and supports internship programs at institutions like the London Business School, IMD Switzerland, The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China’s Institute of Automation (ACM) and MITACS. The company has also partnered with the following universities on research and academic programs:
• Northwest University
• Concordia University
• University of Arizona
• University of Virginia
• University of Toronto
• Peking University
• Beijing University of Technology
• Media Lab of Tsinghua University
• National University of Singapore
• Institute of Infocomm of Singapore
• Zhejiang University
• Imperial College (London)
• Eindhoven University of Technology
• Delft University of Technology
• University of Twente
• Radboud University Nijmegen
• Hogeschool of Limburg/University of Leuven
In January 2010 and June 2010, the company opened Irdeto Centers of Excellence in Beijing and Singapore, respectively. The centers are designed to support customers and serve as an education hub for students and industry partners.
Standards Bodies
Irdeto belongs to the following regional standards bodies and associations:
* ATIS
* Digital Living Network Alliance
* FLOForum
* HIS Initiative
* DNLA Marlin
* Mobile TV Forum
* Oasis
* Open Mobile Alliance (OMA)
* PCI Security Standards Council
* Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem - Ultraviolet
* CASBAA
* China DRM
* China Institute of Competitive Intelligence
* China Mobile Multimedia Broadcasting (CMMB)
* China Quality Brands Protection Committee
* Telecommunications Technology Association
* Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance
* European Association for the Protection of Encrypted Works and Services
* Digitag
* Digital TV Group
* Bmcoforum
* Digital Interoperability Forum
* DLMS
* Forum TV Mobile
* Digital Transmission Licensing Administrator
* DVB
* HBBTV
* Symbian
* Trust in Digital Life
Preventing Security Breaches
Irdeto introduced its first digital conditional access system in 1995, and an updated version was released in the late 1990s. The first smart cards with Irdeto 2 were brought to market in October 2000 and implemented at Multichoice in South Africa. A phased swap-out of older cards took place between October 2000 and end 2001. In September 2009 the company announced Irdeto version 3, also called CAS 3.
Irdeto regularly builds additional security mechanisms into its technology to prevent piracy. Irdeto works with federal authorities, local police and customers to break pirate business models and combat piracy in the pay television market.
Customers
Africa
* DStv
* TVCabo
* GTv
Asia
Western Asia
* Orbit Showtime
* Arab Digital Distribution
* Al Jazeera Sports
* Taj Television Limited - TEN Sports
* ARY Digital Network
Sri Lanka
* Dialog TV
* LBN
South Korea
* TU Media Corp.
China
* Xinjiang Broadcast & Television Transmission Network Corp. Ltd.
* Yancheng Broadcasting Television and Information Development
* Yi Wu Broadcasting & Television Bureau
* Taiyuan Cable TV Network Center
* Foshan Broadcasting and TV Network Company
* Jinan CATV
* Guangzhou Broadcasting and Television Network Co., Ltd.
* Jiangsu Telecommunication & Broadcasting Media Digital TV Co., Ltd.
* Shanghai Media Group New Media Co., Ltd.
* Lin Hai Broadcasting and Television Bureau
* Taizhou Tongda Cable Digital Network Co., Ltd
* Zhenjiang City Broadcasting and Television Station
* Fujian Radio & TV Broadcasting Co., Ltd
* The State Administration of Radio Film & Television Center of Transmission
* Jiaxing Broadcasting and TV Network Co.
* Shanghai Stock Communication Co, Ltd.
* Shaanxi Provincial Network
* SkyWave TV Company Ltd
* Huzhou Broadcast & TV Network Company Ltd.
* Radio & TV New Technology Development Co. of Guangdong Province
* Harbin Yuanshen BTV Network Co., Ltd
* Pacific Century Matrix
* Shanghai Interactive TV
* Jilin Broadcasting & TV Network Co., Ltd
* Liaoning Broadcasting & TV Information Network Co., Ltd
* Hunan Broadcasting and Television Mobil TV Co., Ltd
* Gansu Provincial Network (Gansu Cable)
* China Broadcasting Film Television Satellite Co. Ltd
* Central Satellite Television Transmission Center
* Zhengzhou Broadcasting and Television Information Network Co., Ltd.
* Shenyang CATV Station
* Nanning CATV Station
* Jiangxi Provincial Cable Network
* Kunming Broadcasting TV Network Centre
* Qingdao CATV
* Guangdong Cable TV and Broadcasting Station
* Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting Ltd
* Macau Cable TV
* Wuhan Broadcasting & TV Network Company
* Changsha Guoan Broadcasting and Television Broadband Network Co., Ltd
* Zhuhai Broadcast & TV Station
* Shunde Station of Guangdong Foshan Broadcasting and TV Networks
* Ningbo Digital Television Co. Ltd
* Guangdong Zhuhai TV Transmission Co., Ltd
* China Central Television (CCTV)
Philippines
* SkyCable (Platinum)
India
* Sun Direct DTH (India)
* Videocon DTH (India)
Europe
* Ziggo, Dutch cable television provider
* Telia Sweden
* Isat BV, Netherlands
* Olisat
* NOVA Greece
* RTV Pink
* CanalDigitaal
* iN-Di, Belgium
* Bulsatcom, Bulgarian DTH Operator
* ORF
* Orion-Express, Russia (Satellite Platform)
* Digiturk
* Stofa, Denmark cable television provider
* Sky Link
* HU UPC Direct
* SK UPC Direct
* CZ UPC Direct
* AS Norway
North America
* SES Americom
* GlobeCast World TV
* Cornell University
* Citizens Cablevision
* Home2US
* Netflix
Oceania
* Austar
* Optus (Optus Aurora service)
* SelecTV
* Jadeworld (ABS-8776 decoders only)
* UBI World TV
* TelstraClear Digital Cable
* World media international (Mysat)
South America
* Montecable Video S.A. (Uruguay)
* Nuevo Siglo (Uruguay)
* TCC (Uruguay) (HD)
* A few affiliates of Rede Globo (Brazil)
* Univisa (Ecuador)
* Red Intercable (Argentina)
* Canal 7 Santiago del Estero (Argentina)
* Canal 7 Rawson (Argentina)
* Canal 9 Rio Gallegos (Argentina)
* NahuelSAt (Argentina)
* SerSat Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu