Pace to incorporate Wi-Fi technology into set-top box range

Membership of industry body supporting development of converged payTV technologies

SALTAIRE, West Yorkshire, UK — Pace plc (LSE:PIC), the leading independent developer of digital TV technologies for the global payTV industry, today announces its membership of the Wi-Fi Alliance and the incorporation of Wi-Fi technology into selected upcoming set-top boxes. Pace is pioneering the development of technologies to consume and share content around the home; Wi-Fi will be a crucial part of the future converged home entertainment environment, helping expand the set-top box’s footprint and enabling payTV operators to offer increasingly innovative services.

Pace has one of the world’s most accomplished engineering teams, creating next-generation digital TV products for Pace’s 100+ payTV customers worldwide. Pace’s developments in wireless technologies, shortly to be incorporated into selected high-end set-top boxes (certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance), will allow consumers to share audio and video content. The boxes, capable of transferring content over the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio wave bands via a single high-speed connection gateway, will be compatible with the 802.11a, b, g and n transmission protocols.

“PayTV operators have been behind all the major innovations in the TV industry, and Pace has been responsible for creating much of the technology which enables their ever-more innovative services,” commented Darren Fawcett, Chief Technologist, Pace. “As we move towards a converged home entertainment environment, one of the biggest challenges is moving content around the home; Pace is at the forefront of developing a whole range of technologies which allow operators to offer these kinds of capabilities. Our membership of the Wi-Fi Alliance will aid us in exploiting wireless technology to develop future generations of products with increased flexibility in connecting and sharing media content.”

The Wi-Fi Alliance develops testing and certification programs to help ensure the best user experience with Wi-Fi technology. The organisation’s Wi-Fi CERTIFIED programs, which have been a driving force in the growth of the worldwide Wi-Fi market, address interoperability across manufacturers’ products and help ensure strong security. The membership will allow future products to be certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance, and carry the globally-recognised Wi-Fi logo.

“Wi-Fi Alliance member companies such as Pace are responsible for driving adoption of technologies which advance the consumer experience with Wi-Fi products,” added Wi-Fi Alliance Executive Director, Edgar Figueroa. “Pace is recognised as a pioneer in set-top box technology and is leading the way with its converged digital entertainment products. We’re delighted it’s on-board to help further Wi-Fi’s growth into the digital home.”