Telewest Broadband To Trial Pace's Home Networking Platform; Pace Technology To Drive Broadband Take Up

Business Wire, Jan 29, 2002

Business Editors/Technology Writers

WEST YORKSHIRE, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 29, 2002

Pace Micro Technology has announced the first commercial trials of its home networking platform with UK cable operator Telewest Broadband. Trial consumers will be able to use broadband data services on any PC in the home using Pace's `plug and play' home networking devices. These devices create high-speed wireless links between the home gateway (set-top box) and entry point into the home for cable services and the PC.

Research commissioned by Pace has concluded that a `plug and play' home network, building on existing equipment in the home, can accelerate the take-up of broadband services. In the trial, Pace and Telewest will test this conclusion and analyse the ease of consumer installation and how the Pace platform impacts broadband usage. The eight-week trial will be completed in Spring.

A cross-section of Telewest subscribers will take part in the trial who will use Pace's Gateway Expander(TM) and pcConnect(TM) to create the wireless home networking link. Participants simply plug Gateway Expander into the ethernet port of their existing digital cable home gateway or cable modem. This creates the base station for a wireless in-home network which, using the home gateway's high-speed DOCSIS cable modem can distribute IP data services at speeds in excess of 512 kilobits per second, to other devices within the home.

To complete the link to the PC, trialists will use Pace's pcConnect. This device plugs into the USB port of a PC anywhere in the home, creating an `always-on,' wireless two-way link to the cable broadband network through the Gateway Expander. For this trial, the DECT wireless data standard will be used to distribute data reliably around the home, at distances ranging from 50 - 100 metres. DECT uses the same high security standards as current DECT cordless phones installed in millions of homes across the UK.

Pace's home networking platform has been in development for over two years and has been designed as an easy to install and use platform for both the consumer and operator. Central to this strategy has been a `no new wires' stance to avoid burdening consumers and operators with the cost and inconvenience of extensive home re-wiring and installation visits. The platform can be adapted to operate on any broadband network to provide two-way communication from the broadband network external to the home, to peripheral electronic devices such as the PC connected internally to the home network. To further manage operational costs, remote diagnostics via the operator call centre can also be set-up to rapidly rectify faults.

The next generation of Pace products will extend opportunities for in-home networks. Operators will be able to combine video, data and voice services using VoIP and Packet Cable standards for wireless distribution throughout the home. A host of new applications will also be possible from audio and game downloads to new opportunities for operators to share incremental revenues with other providers of networked home services by, for example leasing bandwidth to utility companies for remote diagnostics.

"Our home networking platform will work with digital home gateways already deployed by Telewest," explained Andy Trott, CEO of Networked & Connected Devices Division. "Trialists will simply plug Pace's Gateway Expander into their Home Gateway's Ethernet port, attach a pcConnect to as many laptops or desktop PCs they want and they are ready to go.

"Pace's Gateway Expander establishes a high-speed wireless link with pcConnect to provide Internet access almost 10 times faster than through a PSTN modem. Trial householders will be able to surf the Internet on several PCs, roam the house with a laptop connected to the web and watch TV at the same time without having to compete for a single broadband connection," Andy Trott added. "Disputes over television content will be a thing of the past with a streamlined home gateway distributing digital services throughout the home."

"Pace is delighted to trial its home networking technology on two of the world's leading digital cable networks," added Malcolm Miller, Pace's CEO. "Our networked home technology is designed for operators such as Telewest to create new revenue generating opportunities for minimal additional investment and extend their customer appeal. Pace is excited about deploying its home networking technology in real home situations where we can demonstrate to both operators and consumers, the real and practical services of the home gateway enabled networked home."

About Pace Micro Technology

Pace Micro Technology plc is a pioneer of digital technology for the home and has helped build the global market for pay television services. Using this expertise, Pace is evolving the set-top box into a home gateway to enable sophisticated services for TV and the networked home. In this networked home, the Pace home gateway is the portal for interactive communications, for consumer devices and services to interact with each other and the outside world.