Digital CATV networks now being deployed offer the promise of a rich application environment that goes beyond broadcast and IIPPV
E-commerce applications that extend the revenue-generating possibilities of the network also bring new issues and challenges. Many of these challenges are security-related and create requirements for authentication, encryption, simplified key management and message integrity. Public key cryptography can help meet these new requirements as well as provide the basis for the "many-to-many" security relationship that is necessary to support scalable, spontaneous £-commerce applications.
A contemporary approach to CATV security will include support of a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).