France Telecom and Sagem Communication (SAFRAN Group) announced the immediate roll-out of the world's first IP MPEG4 set-top boxes (STBs) based on a single-chip decoder, with Viaccess conditional access and available with Buda card, its new generation of smart cards for Pay-TV.

When compared to today's industry-standard MPEG2 video compression technology, the use of MPEG4 compression technology will enable broadcasters and service operators, using their existing broadcast network, to offer end users HDTV and/or many more TV channels.

The new SAGEM ITAD80 defined with France Telecom, is a hybrid MPEG4 IP STB, that receives the IP Television (IPTV) offered by `MaLigne TV' service.

"The roll-out of the world's first IP MPEG4 set-top boxes is a logical progression, to continuously introduce innovation for our clients. With MPEG4, we will introduce new services, such as HDTV, and offer `MaLigne TV' to more customers", said Patricia Langrand, Viaccess Chairman and Executive VP of France Telecom in charge of the Content Division.

"We are delighted that France Telecom has selected Sagem's new MPEG4 set-top boxes for the further deployment of its `MaLigneTV' service" said Patrick Sévian, deputy Chief Executive Officer of Sagem Communication. "This achievement demonstrates the ability of Sagem Communication to design in a short period of time a next-generation product, customised to the needs of France Telecom, and to deliver it in significant volumes before the end of the year."