In a multi-year agreement, Bell Canada has selected Ericsson's (NASDAQ:ERIC) MediaFirst TV Platform to support its multiscreen TV services for more than 1.5 million Fibe TV and Alt TV subscribers in Canada.
The deal expands on the companies' existing relationship, which dates to the 2010 launch of Bell's Fibe TV service and deployment of Ericsson's Mediaroom IPTV platform. MediaFirst will be integrated with Mediaroom to accommodate third party apps.
Rizwan Jamal, Bell's president of Residential and Small Business, said: "Our longstanding and successful relationship with Ericsson helped us deliver the innovative and exclusive new Fibe TV services that propelled Bell to the No. 1 in position in Canadian TV. We look forward to taking the game-changing Fibe TV and Alt TV even further, enabling next generation services across a wider range of devices by leveraging the innovative IPTV technologies of Ericsson MediaFirst."
Angel Ruiz, head of Media Solutions, Ericsson, said: "Demand for high quality, seamless and personalized TV services is at an all-time high. With this increased consumer demand, service providers need to find ways to drive agile transformation within their business and ensure they have access to the technology and solutions that will help reduce operational costs and increase new revenue opportunities. The implementation of our award-winning MediaFirst TV Platform will enable Bell to further enhance its innovative services and deliver additional benefits both within its business and to its subscribers, offering a superior user experience across all devices."