ABOX42 GmbH, a supplier of OTT, IPTV and Hybrid-DVB Set-Top-Box platforms, unveils at IBC 2015 in Amsterdam its new Smart STB platform M40, developed for advanced operator projects worldwide. The M40-Series SmartSTB is based on Broadcom’s latest Ultra High Definition high performance 10,000 DMIPS system-on-a-chip BCM7251S. The M40 platform combines unprecedented processing power and speed for decoding of HEVC up to 4K video with up to 60 frames per second and for unbeatable UI performance.
The M40 STB platform also includes fast WIFI as an option, up to 802.11ac, 1 GBit/s Ethernet and USB 3.0 interface. M40 supports built-in Bluetooth 4.0 and RF for hybrid remote controls and support of home control systems via Zigbee / Thread standard. Multichannel video recording is possible via fast external USB 3.0 hard disks or via built-in hard disk of up to 2 TeraByte capacity.
On the software side the M40 STB platform includes ABOX42 SmartSDK middleware and development environment. Due to ABOX42’s unique approach in software compatibility, M40 SmartSTBs can be integrated into existing operator’s environments since its software stack is compatible with all other current ABOX42 M-series STB platforms.
The SmartSDK supports an ultra-fast HTML5 browser based user interface and application environments including HbbTV. All major streaming formats for OTT, IPTV and DVB are supported. On the DRM/Software-CAS side the M40 is ready for Verimatrix VCAS, Marlin, Playready, SecureMedia and WideVine. The M40 SmartSDK is upgraded to support HEVC on both 4K and on Full-HD in all combinations and with all Streaming formats like HLS and DVB-T2.
The M40 Smart STB-series is available in various configurations to support different network environments. The OTT/IPTV version is available for pure IP operators. M40 Hybrid-DVB versions are available for DVB-C, DVB-T/T2 and DVB-S/S2 networks to support all traditional Pay-TV environments in combination with Hybrid-DVB and OTT/IPTV.
“The M40-series is the most powerful SmartSTB we ever built and it can be quickly integrated into existing environments.” says Matthias Greve, CEO of ABOX42. “For the first time it is possible for an operator to mix different hardware models and generations in one service offering due to the compatibility of the device, which we provide via our unique SmartSDK. So an operator can have a clear upgrade path to 4K/UHD in his exiting network, based on a fully compatible software stack.”
“We are happy that ABOX42 decided to integrate our latest high performance Ultra HD solution BCM7251S”, said Stuart Thomson, Broadcom Senior Director of Marketing, Broadband Communications Group. “As consumer interest in Ultra HD continues to grow, the BCM7251S offers a unique feature set UltraHD to power the next generation of Set Top Boxes for the operator market”.
Besides the SmartSDK, the M40-series runs ABOX42 OPX TV user interface. OPX TV offers an HTML5 user interface for the essential TV services.
OPX supports both IPTV/OTT and all traditional DVB use cases like live TV, PVR (local and network), EPG, and VOD. OPX TV can be customized to the operator’s brand image and can be easily integrated into exiting middleware and back end systems.
In addition to the complete software solution on the SmartSTB, ABOX42 offers an extensive line of SaaS and cloud TV services to manage the deployment, installation and operation of the M40 in the field, like managing the software life cycle and collecting reporting data from the costumers. With the additional OPX Cloud TV services, ABOX42 offers a full range of SaaS services for a complete first screen TV solution like channel management, EPG Data, Tariff- and price models, user management and provisioning which can be quickly integrated into existing Billing, Provisioning- and CRM infrastructures of the operator.
The M40 will be demonstrated on the ABOX42 booth J13 in Hall 14 during IBC.
About ABOX42
ABOX42 is a leading, Germany based, supplier of a next generation Smart Set-Top-Box platforms for Pay-TV, IPTV and OTT operators. The ABOX42 solution consists of four major elements. Hardware, Software, User Interface and Cloud services. ABOX42 offers a full range of Smart Set-Top-Boxes with different price-points and feature-sets; from cost effective IPTV/OTT STB platforms up to UHD/4K high end Hybrid-DVB receivers. The ABOX42 SmartSDK software stack offers full compatibility through out the entire hardware line; so operators can easily deploy different hardware version running the same TV-services. ABOX42’s OPX TV User Interface offers end users an easy to use GUI with all essential DVB, IPTV and OTT functions. The final part of the offering are various Cloud TV and SaaS services to manage the installation, operation and upgrading of the ABOX42 SmartSTB in the field.
ABOX42’s SmartSTB platform can easily be integrated into existing operator services or can be used in a modular way to quickly and cost effectively built up a complete Pav-TV offering using the ABOX42 OPX TV middleware solution.
In contrast to traditional project driven Set-Top-Box suppliers, ABOX42 products and services are constantly enhanced and always make the latest features available to all customers.
ABOX42’s products and services are used by Telcos, ISP, Cable operators and OTT companies on a world-wide basis.
