GS Group unveils Tricolor TV multiroom box details

GS Group’s Technopolis facility in Kaliningrad, Russia

GS Group, the Russian technology supplier to the Tricolor TV platform, has unveiled details of the boxes it is supplying to provide the Russian pay TV leader with a multiroom platform.

GS Group is supplying two digital set-tops to Tricolor, a primary device and a secondary box for second TVs.

The main device, the GS E501, can receive DVB-S and DVB-S2 signals and has two DVB-S2 tuners. The secondary box, the GS C591, receives the signa by Ethernet.

The boxes are based on GS Group’s own chipsets, with software that supoprts automatic device detection, data synchronsiation, IP media server capabilities and encryption and permissions management, according to the group.

“The good news for customers is that they don’t need to buy two separate set-top boxes to watch different channels of its satellite operator on two TVs. One set will be enough”, said Andrey Bezrukov, director, strategic marketing, GS Group.

“The user can save money as the price of the set is only slightly higher than the cost of any single General Satellite set-top box of those we currently produce, and significantly cheaper than two separate consoles.”] “Our subscribers will by all means find it very convenient to watch different channels on two TVs having just one user account,” said Alexander Starobinets, marketing director of Tricolor TV.

“We as an operator will benefit from simplifying customer service. Now our subscribers with two receivers from one set will be able to manage their payments from a single account. The two devices are connected via a local network.”

Separately, GS Group has singed a joint venture agreement with Bangladesh’s Beximcom Group to launch the country’s first DTH service,

GS Group will provide technical support to the new entity, Beximco Communications Ltd.

The commercial launch of the DTH platform is scheduled for the end of this year, and Beximco has set a target of 300,000 subscribers by the end of next year, with an ambition to sign up 400,000 customers annually thereafter.

GS Group expanded into international pay TV two years ago with a launch in Cambodia.