The figures mean that, in under four years, Belgacom has captured a 30 percent share of Belgium’s digital TV market.

“Nokia Siemens Networks has been our partner since we launched IPTV services, providing us with a resilient, scalable, and fully integrated end-to-end solution that enables us to offer the services we need to effectively compete in the Belgian Market,” said, Scott Alcott, Executive Vice President Service Delivery Engine at Belgacom. “In March 2009, the total number of Belgacom TV users reached 555,000 and Nokia Siemens Networks’ integrated solution helped us to increase our average revenue per user by 7 percent, compared to 2007.”

Nokia Siemens Networks IPTV platform provides an intuitive user interface with advanced features. In addition to this base client platform, Belgacom also uses Nokia Siemens Networks’ Infopages feature to differentiate its content by creating unique, web-like, interactive applications including an easy access VoD catalogue, online shopping and instant voting.

Nokia Siemens Networks has also integrated Cisco’s HD IPTV set-tops to support entertainment experience-enhancing features like HDTV, PVR (personal video recorder) and video on demand (VoD) services at the end-user premises. Cisco global shipments of HD IPTV set-tops have reached over 3 million units to date.

“We apply the expertise gained from over ten years of IPTV innovation to not only help Belgacom offer its customers an exciting new way of experiencing television, but also to tap into new sources of revenue,” said Bart Bosmans, Global Head Media & Entertainment at Nokia Siemens Networks. “We design IPTV platforms to be scalable and operationally efficient, minimizing the strain on network infrastructure and lowering operational costs. Our continued focus on this approach allows Belgacom to offer a more profitable IPTV service.”

Nokia Siemens Networks has also provided Belgacom with software maintenance services, a key element of high quality network operations given the large amount of software used in such networks and their increasing complexity.

MBC Group and Etisalat today announced that over 8mn videos have been viewed through “internet TV” platform on MBC’s Shahed Online offering since its launch in Ramadan 2008.

According to Etisalat’s analysis, over 3 million visitors, of whom 65% are from the Middle East, have viewed 8 million videos on the Etisalat powered Web site www.mbc.net/shahid. This has created a valuable new proposition for MBC’s advertising partners who have enjoyed over 5mn, 5-second pre-roll ads and hundreds of thousands of post-roll ads. 

Dr. Ammar Bakkar, Group Director of New Media at mbc group said: “Internet TV is a next-generation distribution channel which has the capability to deliver both a verifiable and global reach. Our ‘Shahed Online’ service is a success story which we can share with our advertising partners and provide a new and efficient way of implementing their media strategy. These results clearly show that Internet TV is a channel that has the power and ability to attract customers and build brand value.” 

Etisalat and MBC launched “Internet TV” on September 10, 2008 with MBC’s top 9 programmes available for free, on demand. Today there are over 34 shows available online, including entertainment, religious and drama series. 

“Internet TV will change the way broadcasters showcase content and customers access television entertainment. This initiative has shown the potential for Internet TV and provided verifiable and immediate results to MBC’s advertising partners,” Essa Al Haddad, Chief Marketing Officer at Etisalat said.  

“Over the last 30 years Etisalat has invested widely in intercontinental submarine cables and has developed into the regional hub for content and connectivity. This makes Etisalat the premier choice for TV companies and other content providers to develop Internet delivery channels,” Etisalat’s Chief Marketing Officer added.