Major International Deployment of Ultra HD Services Relies on Alticast’s AltiProtect Conditional Access Solution for Security

South Korea’s CJ Hellovision is Latest Service Provider to Launch Ultra HD Services

Alticast, a global partner for the delivery of media entertainment, has been selected to provide the security for the ambitious rollout of Ultra High Definition (Ultra HD) video services by CJ Hellovision, South Korea’s largest cable television operator which now offers both live and on-demand Ultra HD programming to all of its more than 4.3 million subscribers. 

The key to the secure delivery of CJ Hellovision’s Ultra HD programming is the deployment of Alticast’s AltiProtect conditional access system (CAS) using the Alticast Download and Exchange framework (XCAS).  The deployment began in November 2014 when CJ Hellovision rolled out new set-top boxes (STBs) and smart TVs using AltiProtect.  The company is also remotely swapping the legacy CAS on its previously deployed HD STBs to AltiProtect and this process is slated to be complete in April.

“Ensuring the security of our Ultra HD services is a major concern and the reason we selected Alticast to supply the critical conditional access component,” said Hong-Ik Kim, Smart Engineering Team Manager at CJ Hellovision.  “Their AltiProtect CAS not only ensures that our Ultra HD programming is delivered securely, its outstanding performance, interoperability and security allow us to easily expand our multiscreen services to new devices.”

“This deployment of Ultra HD is the latest example of CJ Hellovision’s history of constant innovation and validation of the AltiProtect solution and its capabilities,” said Mansoo Han, Chief Marketing Officer of Alticast.  “Securing content continues to be a critical concern for service providers worldwide as they offer Ultra HD and other services to an ever increasing array of devices inside and outside the home.  Our AltiProtect solution specifically addresses service providers’ most demanding security requirements on both STBs and consumer-owned devices.”

Alticast’s proven AltiProtect CAS solution enables service providers to ensure their programming content is securely delivered and viewed only by authorized subscribers.  Proven in major deployments, AltiProtect is currently installed on millions of STBs deployed by multiple cable operators worldwide and is ideal for both legacy STBs and next-generation devices that are based on either hardware-enabled security (e.g. CableCARD) or non-hardware security.  Complementing AltiProtect is the AltiProtect Downloadable and Exchangeable framework (XCAS), which allows operators to seamlessly and remotely swap CAS systems.  This reduces costs by eliminating truck rolls and preserving investments in legacy STBs while also speeding the introduction of new devices.

About CJ Hellovision

CJ Hellovision is South Korea’s largest multiple systems operator (MSO) and provides its more than 4.3 million subscribers with a full suite of broadband data, voice and video services, including hundreds of channels of live and on-demand programming.  More information is available at http://eng.cjhellovision.com/

Moving Past CableCARD

Recent news has made it clear that it’s only a matter of time until CableCARD technology meets its ultimate demise. It’s an outdated technology that simply has not kept up with the times and is actually hindering the natural progression of the industry, which is increasingly leaning towards mobile.

While there was reason for CableCARD implementation in the first place, the industry’s technology has advanced and most MSOs are ready to move on. Security was one of the primary reasons CableCARD was introduced and there are currently a plethora of more effective offerings available. Downloadable conditional access solutions, for example, eliminate the need for CableCARDs while maintaining condition access (CA) independence and have been deployed for many years.

Two available solutions that utilize downloadable conditional access strategies are OMS and XCAS. Check out their respective merits below.

Open Media Security (OMS) – Already deployed in North America since 2010, OMS can support a variety of CA systems, however they must conform to the OMS Key Ladder. A key benefit of OMS is that it allows for multiple companies to provide solutions and maintains interoperability between CA and the STB. OMS is already proven an effective alternative to CableCARD.

Exchangeable Conditional Access Solution (XCAS) – Developed in Korea and deployed internationally by many service providers, CA systems and STB manufacturers, XCAS uses KLAD

technology and offers more flexibility than the OMS as well as some additional security, though            at the cost of some added complexity.

There are additional CA strategies that do not offer the benefit of being downloadable. One strategy involves Digital Transport Adapters (DTAs). DTAs have recently seen improvements to allow some interactivity but they are still much simpler and less powerful than STBs. DTAs are currently prohibited under the FCC’s Integration Ban but an active petition is seeking to change this.

There are many alternatives at the ready to be widely adopted once CableCARD requirements are officially removed, which is likely to happen in September when the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Reauthorization Act of 2014, also known as STELA, goes before the Senate. The bottom line is that it’s time for CableCARD to go and for widespread adoption of other, more effective strategies, like OMS and XCAS, to take place.