The largest cable operator in Kazakhstan, Almatel Kazakhstan, operating under the brand name Alma TV, has augmented its cable television service with the launch of a direct-to-home (DTH) satellite television platform using the latest generation HEVC video compression solution from Harmonic.

Harmonic's Electra™ X advanced media processing platform allows Alma TV to deliver high-quality SD, HD and UHD channels across Kazakhstan with increased bandwidth efficiency by leveraging the HEVC video codec. Using the software-based Electra X system, Alma TV will be able to easily adopt new formats and codecs in the future, including 4K/UHD.

"Our subscribers demand exceptional video quality. So, when it came to finding a solution provider for video delivery, Harmonic was the clear choice based on their extensive deployment experience, technology innovation and competitive pricing," said Eric Franke, CEO of Almatel Kazakhstan. "Being able to deliver around 140 SD and HD channels from the same DTH platform improves efficiencies and gives us a competitive edge in the marketplace, attracting new subscribers."

According to a recent study from IHS, the number of global households with a 4K/UHD TV will grow from 28 million in 2015 to 335 million in 2020. Powered by the Harmonic PURE Compression Engine™, the Electra X system enables Alma TV to provide its new DTH customers with superior video quality at low bit rates, while also freeing up additional bandwidth. With extra bandwidth at its disposal, Alma TV has launched a UHD channel and is planning to expand its UHD offering in the future to increase revenue streams.

"Alma TV was smart to launch its DTH platform using the HEVC codec, which provides a 50 percent increase in bandwidth savings compared to MPEG-4," said Ian Graham, vice president of sales, EMEA and LATAM at Harmonic. "As pay-TV operators around the world look to launch UHD offerings, having a flexible, easily upgradeable media processor like the Electra X platform, with advanced encoding technology, will be key to their success."