September 10, 2011

Georgia’s Silknet Launches new subscription TV offering with Orca Interactive

Silknet to deploy Silk-tv, an innovative IPTV service in Georgia, based on Orca’s RiGHTv middleware and COMPASS Content

Discovery Platform

Tbilisi, Georgia and Ra’anana, Israel – Georgian based SilkNet has selected Orca Interactive, an innovation leader in IPTV & OTT middleware and applications and a Viaccess subsidiary, to supply RiGHTv as the middleware platform and COMPASS as the Content Discovery and Recommendations platform for Silknet’s subscription TV service.

The Silk-tv service will offer a combination of Free-To-Air (FTA) digital channels, high quality subscription channels, new release movies using VOD in Standard and High Definition and an advanced personal video recorder (PVR). Recognizing that such a variety of content can sometimes overwhelm subscribers, Silknet will deploy Orca's unique system for Content Discovery and Recommendations that will personalize and enrich the TV experience while generating incremental revenues.

Orca’s flexible solution will allow Silknet’s Silk-tv to offer versatile business models and interactive Value Added Services such as games, social networking applications, widgets and more.

Silknet, the incumbent telecom operator of Georgia, was privatized in April 2010, a move which created a highly competitive TV and telecommunications landscape and has led to this exciting opportunity for Silknet’s subscribers.

Silknet currently provides Fixed Line and Broadband Internet services to its subscribers.

The launch of Silknet’s new Silk-tv service is expected for April 2011, utilizing Silknet’s ADSL2+ and GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) infrastructure and AirTies STB’s integrated with Motorola’s (Bitband) Video Servers.

CEO, Mr. George Gugunishvili of Silknet: Cooperation with Orca is a very important and positive for us, because it is a guarantee of stability and quality, also, what is important, a vast area of future development and renovation. We look forward for cooperation with Orca and truly believe this will positively influence our increasing number of customers.

Haggai Barel, CEO of Orca Interactive, added: “In today's competitive market, new

TV operators face a dual challenge. First, they must differentiate themselves and update their service with new offerings on a regular basis. Second, they must provide their viewers with tools for content discovery that will allow them to enjoy the full range of content that they provide. Orca's solutions were selected by Silknet for those exact reasons; our advanced capabilities and unique SDK will enable Silknet to innovate with minimal time to market and with optimized cost. At the same time, COMPASS will assist silk-TV viewers to make content purchasing decisions, thereby improving the operator’s profitability thanks to an increase in content consumption and more controlled demand.

Orca provides Silknet with a unique, field-proven combination of flexibility, innovation and reliability."

About Silknet:

JSC  Silknet was  formed after merger of United Telecom of Georgia (UTG), Wanex and Adjara Elektrokavshiri.

UTG, Wanex and Adjara Elektrokavshiri formed JSC Silknet in March, 2010. The main purpose for setting up a new company was to increase in combined shareholder value over the sum of original 3 companies shareholding values. In other words, the rationale was to achieve the economies of scale, combine complementary resources and establish more efficiency, We have fundamentally changed our strategy. Started in September 2010 , we brought fiber connections to homes(FTTH)  in Tbilisi with the expensive state-of-the-art technology. As a result, we offer a broadband triple play – internet, voice and television over IP.  We have started to develop Fiber Optic infrastructure in Kutaisi and Batumi , Georgia's Second and Third largest Cities.

Silknet” is the largest company in Georgia that offers its customers a full package of telecommunication services. “Silknet” serves over 450 000 subscribers and has 3 300 employees.

“Silknet” is the first company in Georgia to offer IPTV. Due to its unique features and a high quality service the company has already acquired over 25 000 subscribers in 10 months.

“Silknet” serves 61% of the land-line phones and 49 % of internet market in Georgia. The company offers its customers both DSL and Fiber-Optic technologies for internet.

Company plans to add mobile service to its portfolio and to pioneer in developing quadruple play offers in Georgia. We believe that with the appropriate setup, price structure and marketing activities, quadruple play can bring a big success in Georgia,

Company’s Vision is to adapt a service oriented approach in every relationship with customers and business partners,

Maximize return to shareholders and at the same time stay committed to our values. Create a portfolio of high quality products and services that satisfy customer desires and needs. Create strong, dynamic, valuable and fast growing brands. Be socially responsible and help the world to be a better place.

Press Contact: Orly Ariely, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , +972-54-4910141

Twitter: @orcainteractive