Broadcom announced the industry's first GPS-enabled satellite outdoor unit (ODU) device. The solution combines Broadcom's BCM4551 satellite TV device with its BCM4771 GPS receiver, enabling operators to better track the location of subscriber equipment and pinpoint subscriber's service issues in the home.
Broadcom's new satellite solution resides in the low-noise block (LNB) of a subscribers' satellite dish, enabling operators to better position dish installations and reduce metering equipment costs and truck rolls. Combining GPS-enabled ODU technology with a set-top box (STB), operators can quickly locate and validate a subscriber's home location.
"By combining Broadcom's field-proven satellite ODU technology with GPS functionality, we are able to provide operators with the capability to more conveniently and cost-effectively track the location of their equipment and prevent redistribution of content to nonsubscribers," said Nicholas Dunn, Broadcom Vice President of Direct Broadcast Satellite Marketing.
"This integrated technology can also open the door to operator delivery of location-based social media and business applications, providing subscribers with targeted content such as information on local service providers, retail operations and restaurants, or a specific televised event."
GPS technology within the LNB also allows operators to geo-lock content to subscribers. Content geo-locking uses a subscriber's location to deliver video content specific to the subscriber's service address.
This ensures the delivery of personalized services and prevents costly theft of service for operators. Previously, content geo-locking was only available through a costly external device attached to subscriber's set-top box; today's introduction from Broadcom offers best-in-class capabilities at an incremental cost for operators.
