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Giesecke and Devrient SIM Cards Secure Access to Mobile TV from Vodafone Italy
Vodafone Italy, the country’s second largest mobile network operator, recently began offering its wireless customers a way to watch TV on their cell phones through its Vodafone SKY TV service. Much like pay-TV on an ordinary television set, the channels come in the form of encrypted broadcasts. The system of access rights offered by Nagravision handles the task of decoding the signal inside the mobile handset. Nagravision is an independent provider of conditional access systems and integrated solutions for digital TV channel operators. SIM cards being supplied by Giesecke & Devrient (G&D), the world’s second largest manufacturer of smart cards, ensure secure storage and administration of the keys and the user’s rights for the Nagravision system while enabling Vodafone to bill its customers for the incurred TV charges directly via the SIM card.
Italy’s wireless customers are among the first in the world with the ability to watch TV on their cell phones. Since June 2006, they have been able to receive their preferred shows on mobile TV sets. With an introductory giveaway campaign, Vodafone Italy launched in December 2006 its mobile TV program, Vodafone SKY TV, which offers a selection of nine different mobile phone TV channels. Mobile TV programs are transmitted to cellular telephones using Digital Video Broadcasting Handheld (DVB-H) technology. The shows can then be watched via DVB-H mobile phones on the market, the KU950 from LG and P940 from Samsung.
The applet required to decode the TV channel and administer the keys as well as the user’s rights of the Nagravision’s conditional access system is stored on a 128-Kbyte G&D SIM card dubbed UniverSIM Andromeda Pro CX 128. That means the SIM card roughly assumes the role of a smart card used for conventional pay-TV programming. The UniverSIM card meets the standards for 4+ CC EAL certification as well as Vodafone's especially strict security requirements.
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About Giesecke & Devrient:
Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) is a technology leader in the field of smart cards, providing smart card based solutions for telecommunications, electronic payment, health care, ID, transportation, and IT security (PKI). G&D is also a leading producer of banknotes and security documents and is dominant in the field of currency automation. Based in Munich, Germany, the G&D group has subsidiaries and joint ventures around the world. In fiscal 2005, the Group employed some 7,500 people and generated revenue of €1.24 billion. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.gi-de.com/press.