SES Astra is enhancing its digital television service offering to broadcasters, announcing plans to offer a new infrastructure service package for free-TV, pay-TV and additional interactive services.

The new offer will be open to all broadcasters and ease the development of digital services on an open technological basis. The offer will consist of playout services, encryption of program signals, smart card distribution for access and customer relations management.

“The infrastructure that we offer is completely open for everybody, neutral and non-discriminatory,” said Ferdinand Kayser, president and CEO of SES Astra. “What we are doing will help all interested free- and pay-TV channels to enter the digital age, enabling the distribution of new programs and program packages and therefore fostering competition.”