J:COM taps Ericsson for RDK and MediaFirst deployment

Japanese cable operator J:COM has tapped Ericsson to provide an RDK-based platform alongside its MediaFirst TV platform to support advanced TV services.

J:COM has selected Ericsson’s award-winning MediaFirst TV Platform, to enable an enhanced, personalized multiscreen TV experience to its 3.7 million subscribers. The basic design phase will commence in Q4 2017 and the companies will solidify the development agreement subsequent to this.

Ericsson will also deploy the industry standard RDK platform in J:COM’s set-top boxes and a conditional access system to support delivery of Ultra HD content.

Ericsson will also provide content recommendation services via its advanced data analytics.

Hirohiko Imura, president, J:COM, said: “Consumers have more choice than ever before and it is therefore imperative that we stand out from the crowd to remain competitive in an ever-cluttered TV landscape. We believe that a seamless and personalized TV Everywhere service will enable J:COM to create that distinction. By deploying Ericsson MediaFirst TV Platform, we will have access to a range of uniquely intelligent, high performance solutions that will help us to transform our television offering and strengthen our position at the forefront of TV innovation.”

Angel Ruiz, head of media solutions, Ericsson, said: “Ericsson’s award-winning MediaFirst TV Platform will enable J:COM to power a next generation TV experience that is available seamlessly across all screens both inside and out of the home, and tailored to meet the needs of each individual subscriber. By leveraging the benefits of virtualization and cloud technologies, we can help J:COM to increase its subscriber base and benefit from new and more flexible business models. This is the first step in a long-term partnership and we look forward to growing our partnership with J:COM over the years to come.”

Ericsson will be exhibiting at IBC on stand 1.D61