SES AMERICOM Adds Harmonic's Scrambling Technology to IP-PRIME IPTV Distribution Platform

October 24, 2006 - SES AMERICOM, an SES GLOBAL company and Harmonic Inc. have announced the integration of Harmonic's latest video encryption technology with SES AMERICOM's IP-PRIME™ IPTV distribution service.

The new Harmonic ProStream™ 1000 with ProCipher™ AES scrambling and bulk descrambling technology is a key component of IP-PRIME, which claims to enable large and small telephone company operators and broadband service providers across the U.S. to deliver a full lineup of programming to consumers.

"Secure transmission of video content over the IPTV network is a critical requirement for telcos deploying video services," said Alan Young, Chief Technology Officer for SES AMERICOM. "With Harmonic’s versatile ProStream 1000 scrambling and bulk descrambling technology, we are able to offer telcos a highly reliable way to transport and distribute hundreds of channels. The ProStream's integrated scrambling, descrambling and re-multiplexing capabilities give SES AMERICOM and the telco operators using the IP-PRIME service more flexibility and a simpler way to deliver secure video to the consumer."

"SES AMERICOM's IP-PRIME service with the ProStream encryption is the world's first implementation of this unique encryption technology within a single 1-RU system," said Nimrod Ben-Natan, Vice President of Solutions and Strategy for Harmonic Inc. "SES AMERICOM has played an important role in helping Harmonic to define the requirements for the AES bulk decryption technology implemented in this project. At Harmonic, we are committed to working closely with our customers to develop and deploy creative and technically advanced solutions that meet their business and technology needs. In this case, the unique ProStream solution with ProCipher AES encryption not only reduces cost and complexity in the IP-PRIME network, it also streamlines the encryption and delivery of aggregated video services."