Conax launches cardless security option
September 13, 2013
Colin Mann @ IBC
Having for a number of years contended that cardless content security was not feasible, multi-device and digital video content revenue protection specialist Conax has revealed details of its new Cardless CA solution.“We said that cardless content security couldn’t safely be done; it can be done now,” stated Conax CEO Morten Solbakken.
Fully integrated in Conax Contego, the new Cardless CA solution from Conax is expanding the Conax Contego client portfolio, meaning that Conax Smart Cards and Conax Cardless can seamlessly co-exist in an operator’s ecosystem. Now operators can utilise a mix of Smart Cards and Cardless clients to easily differentiate between the security demands for various types of content and consumers in diverse and growing business models. A\ccording to Conax, this is a key market differentiator between Conax and competing security solutions which may require deployment of separate back-ends. Conax will continue to guide operators to determine which type of content would best benefit from Cardless or smart cards based on value of content, threat scenario and required functionality.
The first chipsets to support the new Conax Cardless solution for STBs is a family of chipsets from ALi Corporation. To enable rapid development of Cardless STBs, Conax and ALi offer a reference design where the Conax Cardless security core is embedded.
Tom Jahr, EVP Products and Partners, Conax, noted that the company’s security solutions had always been software-based. “We have chosen smart cards as a means to distribute and protect our software. This is the most secure way, and Conax has been and will always be extremely focused on security. Recent development in chipset technology has introduced STB chipsets with increased security to a level where we as Conax are comfortable. This has now enabled us to launch a Cardless solution inside a purpose built secure area of the chipset – and under the Conax brand.” Jahr noted that System-on-a-chip (SoC) manufacturers had seen the need for security to be embedded on the chip.
Sales of Conax Cardless will in start November 2013. The product will be ready for mass production by Q1 2014, with Conax promising “an exciting pilot” planned from January 2014.