[SatNews] On March 26th, at the conference Digital&Connected TV Russia, a large national forum devoted to payTV in Russia, GS Group presented a new solution for the problem of digital inequality in Russia.

A special set-top-box (STB) model will facilitate the switchover of Russian TV viewers to digital television from the current and obsolete analog system.

Andrey Bezrukov, Director for Strategic Marketing of GS Group, took part in the round-table meeting “Barriers and Opportunities for Broadcasting Digitization in Russia.” In the course of discussions, the industry representatives noted the competition existing not only between payTV and free-to-view, but also between satellite and terrestrial TV. The discussion resulted into GS Group’s proposal on combining these two formats, which would then allow the unification of the successful model of satellite payTV broadcasting and digital terrestrial TV being launched by the government.

GS Group presented its proprietary solution using the principle of combining satellite and terrestrial TV functions into a single device. The GS Group’s Director for Strategic Marketing told the round-table meeting participants about the new digital STB from GS Group under the brand of General Satellite, which will enter the market this summer. Andrey Bezrukov explained that the model E503 will combine the functions of receiving satellite and terrestrial digital signals, which would enable the subscribers using satellite payTV to receive terrestrial signal as well. The major advantage of the combined STB E503 is in the fact that if either of two types of broadcast, satellite or terrestrial, becomes inaccessible for any reason, the user can always receive the TV channels included in the first and second multiplexes. The model will also support HDTV signal reception.

During the round-table discussion, the industry representatives paid attention to the importance of GS Group as a systemic actor in telecom field and pointed out the necessity of the Holding’s active participation in key industry-specific events devoted to this subject matter.

The national payTV forum—V Conference Digital&Connected TV Russia—was attended by the major analysts and the most important actors of the market. The conference is supported by the Russian Ministry of Telecommunications. Besides this ministry, the National Association of TV and Radio (NAT) and the Association of Cable TV of Russia (ACTR) act as co-organizers of this largest TV forum in Russia. Digital & Connected TV Russia’2014 was prepared with the support from the Association of Developers and Manufacturers of TV and Radio Equipment (ARPAT), HD Union Association, Association of Enterprises of Computer and Information Technologies, International Academy of Telecommunications (IAT), Association of Regional Telecom Operators and Russian Association of Electronic Communications (RAEC).

GS Group is an investment and industry holding, operating on the basis of its very own high technologies in telecommunications and innovation. The holding was founded in Russia by a group of private individuals. The Russian headquarters of the holding is located in St. Petersburg, the international office is in Zug, Switzerland. Key activities: implementation of international broadcasting projects , R&D and production in such fields as nanotechnology, microelectronics; construction and development of Technopolis GS innovation center; deep wood processing; investment in venture projects; media content production and management, software products design and integration, full-service advertisement, logistics and trade.

Please visit http://en.gs-group.com/ for more information.