Delivering Advanced Digital Services to Multi-Dwelling Units with 'No New Wires'

To combat the key challenges facing operators in the
roll-out of digital services to multi-dwelling units, Pace Micro
Technology plc (LSE:PIC), the leading independent developer of digital
TV technologies for the global payTV industry, showcased its 'no new
wires' solution - Pace MultiDweller - at IBC2006.
The Pace MultiDweller concept was first announced at IBC2005, and
is now a fully working prototype, with HD, PVR and VoIP functionality,
as well as high-speed internet delivery.
Pace MultiDweller has been designed to solve the problems
operators face in delivering advanced digital TV and related services
to multi-dwelling units (MDUs). Instead of taking on the (often
prohibitive) cost of upgrading existing infrastructures and installing
new wiring that is capable of relaying the required amount of digital
data, Pace MultiDweller uses open standard protocols to maximise the
use of the existing coax infrastructure in a building.
By making efficient use of the bandwidth available, and having the
right technology to manage the problems inherent in legacy systems,
Pace MultiDweller then allows satellite, cable and IPTV operators to
provide an entire suite of advanced digital services, including HDTV,
VOD, VoIP, high speed internet and PVR functionality, as well as
locally inserted services such as security cameras, to their
customers.
Steve Jenkins, Chief Technologist - Cabled Systems at Pace Micro
Technology commented: "More than half of all TV households across
Europe and Asia Pacific are based in MDUs. This represents a major
potential subscriber base for operators but the expense of installing
the required infrastructure makes reaching this audience a difficult
and costly experience.
"Pace MultiDweller represents a truly cost-effective way for
operators to reach these customers. In fact, if there are a minimum of
three clients in one MDU, there is no other comparable solution that
is cheaper to deploy than Pace MultiDweller, and certainly no other
system with the capability to offer such a wide range of services."
The Pace MultiDweller performs self-configuration and can be
securely managed from a remote location. This means that installation
is rapid and requires no specialist skills, tools or training for the
installers.
Each client can use either a standard QAM cable set-top box
client, or a small adapter which allows a satellite operator's
standard QPSK set-top box to be used. Both options come with
integrated Ethernet ports for broadband provision.
Pace MultiDweller can take transport streams from multiple sources
- including cable, satellite, terrestrial or IP (or any combination) -
which can then be distributed to its clients throughout the building.
The Pace MultiDweller technology has been designed to meet any
size of MDU, but the current prototype is tailored to for apartment
blocks of up to 20 units as this size is most prevalent across Europe.

About Pace Micro Technology

Pace Micro Technology plc (LSE:PIC) is a leading technology
developer for the global payTV industry. Pace's main focus is on
creating intelligent and innovative products and services that benefit
our customers and fuel the development of digital TV.
Pace has one of the world's most experienced specialist
engineering teams and is the partner of choice for leading payTV
operators across the globe, including Comcast, DirecTV, BSkyB, FOXTEL,
Premiere, Sky Italia and UPC (part of Liberty Global).
Pace's international headquarters are in Saltaire, West Yorkshire,
UK, with further offices in the USA, France, Germany, India and Hong
Kong. For more information on Pace, please visit www.pacemicro.com.