DD-India is ready for MPEG4 STBs roll-out

Doordarshan (DD) has made its selection regarding the supply of encrypted MPEG4 STBs for Freedish, its direct-to-home (DTH) platform. The five manufacturers concerned are Millennium technology, KMTS Engineering, BGM holding Company, Velankani Electronics and Modern Communication and Broadcast System.

With this new development, the channel carrying capacity of Freedish will be increased to 104 channels and 40 radio channels, from the 80 channels and 30 radio channels that it actually offers through MPEG-2 STBs. The introduction of the new MPEG-4, DVB-S2 stream will thus boost the service.

Back in September 2015, e-application was issued and the delivery period of STBs was three months, with target being the provision of 250 channels through the MPEG-4 STBs. “We will get additional transponders for providing 250 channels. Currently, we have six transponders,” AK Jha, the Deputy Director General of Doordarshan said.