STAR and BT’s Media and Broadcast sector have signed a three-year managed service IP network solution contract. The service will run across BT’s Global Media Network, an MPLS-enabled IP network designed to carry broadcast traffic. BT’s media IP network has 300 points of presence in 170 countries. STAR will initially carry eight channels including STAR Plus, STAR One, STAR News, Vijay, STAR Gold, STAR Chinese Movies, STAR Chinese Channel and [V] Taiwan from Hong Kong to Los Angeles. Signals will be fed to DTH platforms including DirecTV, Echostar and cable systems in the US. BT’s video-enabled Global Media Network provides secure connectivity to link all stages of the media ‘ecosystem’ from production through to distribution, and connects the customer to multiple platforms across various countries without moving out of the network. STAR is expected to tap into features provided by BT’s media IP network technology including multicast for cost savings with the same feeds sent to multiple locations worldwide. The new deal follows from a network-based managed services agreement signed in October 2007 to shift STAR’s technology platforms from the traditional satellite and leased circuit service to the Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) / Internet Protocol (IP) technology for their contribution link to Europe.