DStv deploys secure content to iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone Read more: DStv deploys secure content to iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone | News | Rapid TV Ne

In a major extension of its mobile TV proposition, South Africa’s first-ever broadcast mobile TV service provider DStv Mobile has rolled out its services to a variety of different devices on the go, including laptops and Apple’s iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone.

At the heart of the deployment has been the need to secure effectively the content that such devices will run and so the Multichoice Africa Group subsidiary is offering the service via a dongle from Korean partner company Valups onto which is embedded security hardware and software from Irdeto.

In particular, DStv is using Irdeto’s Conditional Access System 3 (CAS3) solution for cryptography, which in combination with the dongle is claimed to ensure that DStv can provide its customers with TV programmes via safe in the knowledge that the content is protected.

Accounting for the technology decision making process, Francois Theron, CEO DStv Mobile said, “DStv Mobile was tasked with the challenge of taking Africa into the innovative, exciting and very important realm of mobile TV. An increasing number of Africans can now access broadcast mobile television and Multichoice Africa wanted to be the first to ensure our subscribers could watch their favourite content however and wherever they like.

“After much research, we chose to work with Irdeto and Valups to develop our mobile dongle as the combination provided us with cutting edge technology that would ensure we could protect our content and provide an excellent customer experience. We launched the Drifta in December 2010 to allow viewers to access multiple live TV channels on their mobile devices for the first time.”

The Drifta is available already in South Africa and is set for launch in Ghana, Kenya, Namibia and Nigeria.