The Piccolo is a scalable solution, starting from a few digital transport streams, received free-to-air via IRDs. These programs are being new multiplexed and encrypted. The multiplexer output is QAM and the subscriber receives a low cost Set-top-box (zapping box) with the embedded encryption, without a smart card. The cable operator manages a few hundred - up to a few thousands of subscribers via a subscriber management system (SMS), thus enabling or disabling the respective subscriber according to its payment status.
