BT Media and Broadcast sector has been awarded a multi-million dollar three year managed service IP network solution contract for STAR Group. STAR broadcasts over 60 services in ten languages, reaching more than 300 million viewers in 53 countries across Asia. The service will run across BT’s Global Media Network, an MPLS enabled IP network designed specifically for carrying broadcast traffic. At the start, STAR will carry eight channels – 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 through Direct To Home (DTH) platforms including deploying connectivity to DirecTV, Echostar and cable systems that reach millions of subscribers across the United States. By utilising the BT core IP network, STAR is gaining access to a globally deployed Media IP network that already touches over 300 points of presence in 170 countries. Dr. Guo Xiao Yong, chief technology officer, STAR said: “This is our second Media IP contract with BT and we have been extremely pleased with the service. It has proven to be cost effective, flawlessly reliable and resilient. BT’s service has provided us with a giant technology leap, particularly in assisting us to expand the distribution of our channels in North America.”