PRESS INFORMATION September 1996
Mediamaster lives up to digital future

With digital broadcasting set for dramatic growth in the near future Nokia has launched the Mediamaster 9500. This combined satellite receiver and communications centre is the first step in bringing multimedia into the living room.

This advanced yet easy to use device can be used for both interactive television and as a communications centre. A range of applications include connection to a CD-ROM player for watching films and other interactive pursuits as well as the ability to be linked to a computer. The boundaries between traditional TV entertainment and the computing are well and truly broken.
German viewers are already benefiting from this sophisticated device, known there as the d-box. As a result of an agreement between the Kirch group and Nokia, quantities were available for the launch of satellite services via the ASTRA satellite on 28th July,1996.

Meeting digital needs
The Mediamaster is compatible with current digital video satellite broadcast standards known as DVB/MPEG 2.This standard is agreed for European digital TV transmissions and is expected to be adopted by many other countries world-wide.
Besides Germany, the Nokia multimedia terminal will soon be available in Italy to receive the Telepiu programme selection and in Scandinavia for the MultiChoice services.
In markets outside Germany, the product is designated the Mediamaster 9500. Initially it is available in a version for satellite distribution (DTH) shortly to be followed by a cable TV network model and a terrestrial version to be launched in 1997.
Nokia Multimedia Network Terminals is currently setting up a number of wholly owned subsidiaries throughout Europe as part of its plans to take advantage in the growth of the market for satellite and terrestrial digital cable systems.
It has already announced the establishment of an Italian subsidiary based in Gessate, near Milan.
This year, the company signed a manufacturing agreement with Irdeto, the technical arm of Nethold, for the use of its Conditional Access system for various markets. This allows Nokia Multimedia Network Terminals to market its digital receivers not only in key European markets but also in those areas of the world where the Irdeto CA system is used.
Nokia is committed to collaborating with many players in the industry who wish to benefit from a technology that offers the end user attractive services through Nokia's user-friendly products. At IBC96, several organisations such as ASTRA, EUTELSAT , Hewlett Packard and FUBA,TV/COM are demonstrating their services with Nokia products.

Ready for new services
When new services come on stream, Mediamaster can be updated via satellite. Owe Toernqvist, Vice President of Nokia Multimedia Network Terminals says," As the merger between the television entertainment world and that of the computer is becoming reality, this development clearly shows our commitment to the very demanding market requirements."
The product has already won two awards:- The IF design award for good industrial design (Cebit '96, Hannover) and "Finalist of Most Innovative Cable/Satellite Telecommunications Product/Application" (Cable & Satellite Exhibition, London 1996).

To meet the growing demand for digital 'set top boxes' world-wide the company has invested in new production facilities at Motala in Sweden. An additional 300 people have been employed. As an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer
(the standard covers development, manufacturing and marketing) of multimedia terminals, satellite receivers and decoders, the company has more than 20 years of experience in this field.

Nokia Multimedia Network Terminals is part of the Nokia Group which has 32,000 employees world-wide and had net sales of USD 8400 million in 1995.


For more information contact:
Pekka Kuusela,
Vice president, Sales & Marketing
Phone:+49 234 956 2173
Fax: +49 234 956 2205

or
Dr. Christian Heintz, Key account manager
Nokia Multimedia Network Terminals
Phone:+49 211 908 95 649
Fax: +49 211 62 46 41

The Mediamaster 9500 will be exhibited at at IBC96, Sept.12-16 DVB stand Hall 10, stand 120.