Conax Mexican operations

In 2005...Airecable of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico Moves Ahead of Local Satellite and Cable Providers

Offers MMDS for Digital TV Market Equipped with Conax CAS7 Conditional Access Technology

Airecable of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico launched its digital MMDS (Multipoint Microwave Distribution System) operation with the content protection solution from Conax AS, one of the world’s leading suppliers of conditional access technology for digital television operators. MMDS technology, sometimes referred to as ‘wireless cable”, is a type of television distribution system, like a cable head-end, that offers its subscribers a mix of digital channels from a variety of sources. The channels are then distributed to the MMDS operator’s customers by transmitting the programming over MMDS frequencies (2.5 to 2.7 GHz range) along with MDS, OFS, and ITFS frequencies, if they are available. Wireless cable uses Super High Frequency ("SHF") channels to transmit satellite cable programming over-the-air instead of through overhead or underground wires. The Airecable installation in Mexico represents a new benchmark for MMDS systems in North America and around the world.

“Conax’s proven technology enables us to deliver new digital content over our MMDS broadcasting system. We currently offer 90 channels of local, children’s, music, cultural, films, variety, sports, and digital radio programming with more to come,” commented Ruben Bazan Jr., President Airecable. “We expect to grow our digital customer base to well above 100,000. Conax CAS7 gives us a strong competitive advantage over competing systems in our market with room to expand our very popular local programming, which is unique to Airecable. We plan to build in new Conax modules to offer our subscribers more services and flexible ordering options, as we move forward.”

“Digital customers of Airecable will receive new set top boxes with Conax Smart Cards. This will put Airecable ahead of their competition for the next five-to-ten years. Conax CAS7 with EPG (Electronic Program Guide) will be delivered as a part of a turn-key solution for Airecable,” said Jorgen K H Bertheau, President of Conax USA, Inc.. “The Conax CAS7 conditional access solution we have provided is easy to scale as Airecable’s subscriber base rapidly grows. Conax looks forward to serving them and all their subscribers in the coming years.”

In 2010...Cablemas strengthens its security platform with Conax' open DVB(i) Conditional Access solution

Cablemás, the country’s second-largest cable-TV operator is optimizing its digitization with the Conax cutting-edge content-security platform. The new solution will improve quality and functionality by including redundancy, 24/7 and Evolution Digital STBs.

Cablemás provides voice, video and data (triple play) services for close to 1 million subscribers in Mexico. Through the new platform, customers will benefit from higher quality digital-TV service and a wide range of TV-package options. Digitization of the cable-TV service will strengthen its complete “triple play" offering with the full advantages of a digital environment. Evolution Digital LLC is supplying 200,000 SD and HD STBs (standard- and high-definition set-top boxes), also known as digital terminal adapters (DTAs).

Carlos Alvarez, Managing Director of Cablemás Telecomunicaciones S.A. de C.V, said, "We are very satisfied with our partnership with Conax, our content-security partner, for the deployment of the Cablemás digital platform. We are confident that our combined choice of Conax for security and Evolution Digital for DTAs, will give Cablemás the necessary added value to offer the optimal level of security, quality and functionality needed in such a competitive market as Mexico."

The new solution features added-value improvements to the current analogue content packages for Cablemás customers.

"Adding a blue-chip operator like Cablemás to our customer portfolio is a significant achievement for Conax in Mexico and the entire North American market," Rohit Mehra, Conax VP for North America, said. Conax offers the market an open platform with its Digital Video Broadcasting Conditional Access (DVB CA) solution, allowing operators to choose their STB providers from an extensive list, according to their platform needs."

"Conax and Evolution provide a complete solution that includes the best Conditional Access and the very latest STB features, which meet Cablemás' stringent technical and commercial requirements," added President of Evolution Digital, Brent Smith. Both Conax and Evolution bring years of experience in customizing solutions for operators on a standardised open platform.”