Entropic’s EN5288 Channel Stacking Switch
Image credit: Entropic

[Via Satellite 09-16-13] Wistron NeWeb Corporation’s (WNC) latest operator-class Low Noise Block (LNB) converter, which leverages Entropic’s EN5288 Channel Stacking Switch (CSS), has been approved for use and deployment at Sky Italia. The CSS technology cost-effectively delivers more digital entertainment down a single-cable architecture to feed multiple set-top boxes (STBs) and tuners throughout the home.

According to a June 2013 industry report from Digital TV Research, Italian service providers are facing fierce competition as other pay-TV operators introduce new platforms, launch bundled services and offer advanced commercial offerings. To combat competition, Italian direct broadcast operators (DBS) can make investments in advanced LNBs with CSS technology to mitigate subscriber acquisition costs (SAC) by lowering equipment and installation costs. With this technology they can also increase annual revenue per user (ARPU) by delivering more services and entertainment, from more high definition (HD) channels and video on demand (VOD) to personal video recorders (PVR).

To enable DBS service providers to be competitive, WNC offers its latest LNB solution using Entropic’s highest performance to cost ratio CSS technology, the EN5288. Entropic’s technology allows DBS operators to deliver multiple video streams from individual or multiple satellites into single family home (SFH) or multiple dwelling unit (MDU) over a single cable. This single-cable architecture reduces the cost and complexity of the installation and simplifies STB upgrades by reusing existing cabling in the home or MDU.