SmartLabs equipped Rostelecom-Ural with set-top boxes

June 17, 2011 - SmartLabs, a leading technology provider for IPTV operators, supplies the Ural macro-regional subsidiary of Rostelecom OJSC - Russia’s national telecommunications operator, with SML-292 Premium set-top boxes.

Rostelecom-Ural provides an interactive digital television services in the Urals Federal District and Perm regions, under the “Utel.TV” brand. IPTV services are driven by the SmartLabs platform, which was launched by Ural company in November 2010.

SML-292 Premium is the top HD-receiver model which is produced by SmartLabs. The box has a stylish design and a number of technical advantages in comparison with analogues. SML-292 Premium supports the Full HD (1920x1080) resolution, but also allows playing out the content in the 3D format. This is especially important for Rostelecom-Ural, which is the first among IPTV-operators in the region who provided access to the 3D content.

Equipped with a hard disk, SML-292 Premium also provides access to a number of additional services, which requires HDD (Local PVR, PushVoD and Pause LiveTV). When an operator starts the service, subscribers will be able to keep and play back their own multimedia content from the IPTV set-top box.

SML-292 Premium is more advanced than the other models that are on the market with respect to the number of external devices, which can be plugged into the box. The box has perfect connectivity and multimedia capabilities. It is equipped with two USB ports, optical S/PDIF, HDMI with HDCP and has an additional microphone input, which enables full karaoke functions. In addition, the box can connect to the home network using the Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n high-speed module to receive and play back content from other devices. The box also has an external IR input, which allows customers to place the device into any type of furniture and still receive the remote control signal in the most appropriate and convenient way.

In compliance with Rostelecom-Ural requirements, the set-top boxes were specifically branded to conform the company identity. IPTV boxes are offered to customers on flexible conditions – one can purchase or rent a device.

"The higher-priority tasks for us are to develop and to promote advanced IPTV services, while permanent high quality maintenance requires reliable multifunctional set-top boxes. Therefore, we decided to purchase SmartLabs STBs, which are successfully used by our subscribers since “Utel.TV” launch, - Sergey Frolov, the first deputy general director of Rostelecom-Ural, said. - Using SML-292 Premium, we are convinced that this is a great tool for digital television services promotion and an effective means for attracting new users, because it provides comfortable access to the widest range of multimedia services."

"The act of equipping Rostelecom-Ural with SmartLabs STBs shows that the operator and subscribers are very satisfied with service quality and variety of options provided by our enhanced and multi-functional devices. The SML-292 Premium’s functionality will allow the operator to develop and to successfully launch new advanced digital TV services, including 3D», - SmartLabs CEO Mikhail Grachev says.

About Companies

The Ural macro-regional branch of Rostelecom (Rostelecom - Ural) - a structural unit of Rostelecom OJSC, which acts on the territory of the Urals Federal District and Perm regions. Rostelecom - Ural was created in April 2011 on the basis of Uralsvyazinform after it was taken over by Rostelecom, and now includes seven regional offices - Yekaterinburg, Kurgan, Perm, Tyumen, Khanty-Mansiysk, Chelyabinsk and Yamalo-Nenets. For more information visit the official Rostelecom-Ural’s web site www.usi.ru.

SmartLabs is the leading provider of multi-screen, multi-network solutions for the video streaming sector. SmartLabs’ solutions deliver content services to over 7 million subscribers around the globe on multiple devices from set-top boxes to mobile phones. Smartlabs' client base includes telcos (fixed and mobile), ISP's, cable operators, content and app service providers. SmartLabs partners with 25 IPTV market leaders including Widevine, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Samsung and LG.  Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, Smartlabs has offices in USA, Canada,  UK, Cyprus and has been established for over 15 years, creating innovative solutions for the interactive TV market.