The DVB has given its backing to two approaches to CA, simulcrypt and multicrypt. Simulcrypt is intended to permit different CA operators in different geographic areas. The service carries entitlement messages for each CA provider within an agreed common framework, but the viewer does not have a choice of SMS. In technical simulcrypt, the system is designed to allow two competing CA systems within an agreed framework. Multicrypt is an open system which makes use of the common interface to allow competing CA systems, subject only that the service provider must transmit entitlement messages for each CA provider.

Term designing a conditional access approach whereby the code of a proprietary encryption system is processed by components built-in the set-top decoder. Such a decoder can, thus, only be used for reception of that particular encrypted system.

DVB conditional access option based on a commercial agreement between service providers, which allows access to a common population of proprietary IRDs. The IRD hardware is usually specific to the conditional access system and cannot be used to receive services delivered by service providers that are not party to the agreement.