Estonia’s Elion to launch box-free IPTV from Samsung

TeliaSonera and Samsung have teamed up to develop a Smart TV platform that will enable existing IPTV operators to deploy their services without a set-top box but which includes support for linear, catch-up and on-demand services.

Samsung is demonstrating the platform at the IFA trade fair in Germany and the platform will first be deployed by TeliaSonera-owned Estonian telco Elion later this year, to be followed by launches in Sweden and Finland next year.

“We are continuing to develop more ways for our customers to enjoy their IPTV experience without the need for a set-top box. This development is going to be a significant change to the use of TV. Samsung is continuously working on partnering with operators like TeliaSonera and making consumers enjoy their favourite contents in more easy and convenient ways. This will lead to a much higher level in broadening accessibility through Smart TV,” said Kyungshik Lee, vice-president of visual display division, Samsung.

“TeliaSonera is proud to be first mover and pioneer in this fast-growing area of IPTV services. Our TV business is growing in all Nordic and Baltic countries and in 2012 we will make our TV service available on multiple screens. This new Smart TV solution will certainly make our TV offering even more attractive,” said Malin Frenning, president broadband services, TeliaSonera.