Sigma Media Processors Proliferate Across Europe with the Launch of IPTV Services By Deutsche Telekom, Neuf and Others

July 31, 2006 – Sigma Designs, a provider of digital media processing for consumer electronics, has announced the addition of several new European telco operators that are using its SMP8630 series media processors for IPTV deployments.

T-Online, a division of Deutsche Telekom, is delivering its “T-Home” service, a converged data, voice and video (triple-play) service, based on a client platform using hardware technology from Sigma Designs and software technology from Microsoft. The “T-Home” service is delivered with Cisco IP set-top boxes (STBs), based on Sigma’s SMP8634 media processor, supporting the Microsoft TV® IPTV Edition software platform. The Cisco T-Home X 300T Media Receiver, enables high-definition (HD) IPTV and features personal video recorder (PVR) and dual DVB-T tuner functionality. T-Online introduced “THome” at CeBIT 2006 in Hanover, and will make the service available to its customers in Germany, France and Spain in the second half of 2006.

Neuf Cegetel offers a high-definition video service, which is being delivered over ADSL and TNT based on the new Neuf TV HD set-top box, which is in turn based on Sigma’s SMP8635 media processor. The Neuf TV HD set-top box was developed in partnership with Netgem and decodes high-definition video programs received over both ADSL and TNT networks, and features full support of MPEG-4 SD and HD, TNT tuner, and multi-codec decoding for “Mediacenter ready” functionality. The new Neuf TV HD service, will be initially available in Paris, Lyon and Marseille. The high-definition programming over TNT will allow Neuf TV subscribers who own an HDTV to watch the main events to come in HD Video-on-demand (VOD) services will be provided by Glowria VOD, which will start its service on the HD decoder in September. Neuf Cegetel also offers their current subscribers an upgrade program, allowing them to swap their current set-top box with the new HD box. The Neuf TV HD is also France’s first TV decoder over ADSL to be HDTV certified by EICTA (European Information & Communications Technology Industry Association), which guarantees compatibility with all HDTVs and HD-ready TVs in the market.

AOL France is also in the process of launching its new digital television service via ADSL, using the Netbox HD from Netgem, based on Sigma’s SMP8635 media processor. The Netbox HD is a hybrid set-top box that connects to ADSL and digital terrestrial television (DTT) to receive services in standard and high definition for a wide range of viewing choices. Netgem and AOL France have signed a three-year non-exclusive contract covering the sale of the Netbox HD.

Additionally, the Netbox HDTV from Netgem, powered by the Sigma SMP8635 media processor, is now being sold through FNAC, a major retail chain in France. The Netbox HDTV offers consumers access to the new DTT subscription-free TV services, in high definition, based on the MPEG-4 standard. It also features a smart-card reader, an Ethernet port for Internet access, and a USB port.

This set of announcements demonstrates the two primary approaches being used to create an IPTV client — using custom Linux middleware on one hand, and the Microsoft TV platform on the other — based on set-top boxes powered by Sigma media processors.

“Sigma and its partners have worked closely together to achieve a stable high performance IPTV platform and we are excited to see these deployments take off at multiple telco carriers,” said Ken Lowe, vice president of strategic marketing, Sigma Designs. “We are eager to continue building on this foundation and witness this trend-setting success in Europe and other parts of the world.”