Secure SIM for Mobile TV Encryption
Vodafone Italy recently began offering its wireless customers a way to watch TV on their cell phones through its Vodafone SKY TV service. Much like pay-TV on an ordinary television set, the channels come in the form of encrypted broadcasts. The system of access rights offered by Nagravision handles the task of decoding the signal inside the mobile handset. Nagravision is an independent provider of conditional access systems and integrated solutions for digital TV channel operators.
SIM cards are for the service are being supplied by Giesecke & Devrient (G&D),to ensure secure storage and administration of the keys and the user's rights for the Nagravision system while enabling Vodafone to bill its customers for the incurred TV charges directly via the SIM card.
With an introductory giveaway campaign, Vodafone Italy launched in December 2006 its mobile TV program, Vodafone SKY TV, which offers a selection of nine different mobile phone TV channels. Mobile TV programs are transmitted to cellular telephones using Digital Video Broadcasting Handheld (DVB-H) technology. The shows can then be watched via DVB-H mobile phones on the market, the KU950 from LG and P940 from Samsung.
The applet required to decode the TV channel and administer the keys as well as the user's rights of the Nagravision's conditional access system is stored on a 128-Kbyte G&D SIM card dubbed UniverSIM Andromeda Pro CX 128. That means the SIM card roughly assumes the role of a smart card used for conventional pay-TV programming. The UniverSIM card meets the standards for 4+ CC EAL certification as well as Vodafone's especially strict security requirements."
Posted to the site on 9th February 2007
