Acentic, a supplier of digital interactive TV (iTV) systems over coaxial and IP networks for the hotel industry, is opening a Middle East office.

Acentic Middle East will employ 17 people, managing nine main affiliated distributors in the region with a total of 50 employees.

Company director Prem Kumar said the region was a “natural extension of Acentic’s presence in the key hotel markets”.

“There is significant local demand for access to Acentic’s Panorama system. With Acentic’s 30 years of history in the hotel market and technology resources combined with extensive local knowledge, this will be the first unique global, local experience in the hotel digital television market and will translate into an unrivaled digital TV system for both hoteliers and their guest in the Middle East,” Kumar said.

The new team is currently being trained on Acentic technology at company headquarters in Cologne, Germany in order to launch the new Acentic Panorama IP in-room Hotel Entertainment Platform dedicated to the Middle East by Q2, 2010.

CEO Alistair Forbes said Acentic Middle East assembled “reliable technology, extensive industry experience and customer fulfillment like no other player in our industry”.

“We have been looking for a reliable partner in the Middle East who commits full process management to Acentic and our customers, from the system sales to a personalised after sales service,” Forbes said.

“Acentic Middle East fully responds to our expectations and we are delighted to open an office under the direction of Rene Mieritz and Prem Kumar.”

Acentic’s Panorama system provides hotel guests with HD experience through a graphical user interface.

The company plans to roll out Panorama across Middle East hotels during the next 12 months.