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

SALTAIRE, England -- 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.