Bulgaria taps Ericsson for UHD TV across the Balkans

Content provider Bulgaria Sat has selected Ericsson to deliver media processing hardware that will help deliver Standard Definition (SD), High Definition (HD) and 4K channels to TV subscribers across the Balkan region.

Ericsson will deliver to Bulgaria Sat its AVP 4000 system encoders, 56 High Definition MPEG-4 services, three High Definition HEVC services and 46 Standard Definition MPEG-4 services.

The solution will also offer the first 4K services delivered via the new Bulgariasat-1, Bulgaria’s first geostationary communications satellite , which launched in June.

“The launch of BulgariaSat-1 marks a clear intention to expand the reach and scope of our content distribution,” said Maxim Zayakov, CEO of Bulgaria Sat and Bulsatcom.

“As a long-standing strategic partner of Bulsatcom, Ericsson has consistently provided the very best technologies and solutions to enable us to give our subscribers a wide range of services and content.

“With this latest agreement, we will be able to deliver a series of enhanced services – as well as our new 4K service – underlining the level of trust we place in the quality of Ericsson’s technology to deliver the performance and reliability our subscribers have come to expect.”

Arpad Jordan, head of media processing and delivery, media solutions, Ericsson said: “As demand for ultra-high definition and 4K content increases, service providers need to transform their delivery to allow for greater reliability and efficiency to ensure their subscribers receive a high-quality viewing experience.

“The AVP 4000 compression platform offers the necessary operational flexibility through its modular design allowing service providers to expand their channel offerings and move towards higher definition content in the future. Through our continued partnership with Bulsatcom, we are providing an encoding platform that meets the complex video processing demands of today’s TV and media market.”

The deal marks the continuation of a 10-year relationship between Ericsson and Bulsatcom, the parent company of Bulgaria Sat.