RadioScape to Launch DAB Enhanced Packet Mode for Delivering Multimedia to Mobile Devices at IBC 2005; Technology Pioneered in BT Livetime Service in UK.

LONDON -- RadioScape, the world leader in end-to-end Digital Radio solutions, will be showing its new Enhanced Packet Mode (EPM) technology for transmitting live multimedia services to mobile devices at IBC 2005 (stand 353 in hall 8). The technology is similar to Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) in that it is based on Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) with additional forward error correction and interleaving. It can be combined packet data services such as UDP/IP tunnelling to ensure high quality, robust transmission of video on the move and other DAB data services such as Multimedia Object Transfer (MOT) to deliver broadcast websites and Electronic Programme Guides (EPG).

The first commercial deployment of EPM technology is as the heart of the recently launched BT Livetime trial service in the UK, which uses the latest version of RadioScape's IP Gateway. This allows for the removal of UDP/IP headers to maximise bandwidth and is RTP-aware to ensure that there is no packet loss from the data source - essential in commercial services. EPM differs from DMB in that it is better for circumstances where the delivery of data is bursty or the data rate of the streams is relatively low.

RadioScape is already one of the leading providers of DMB broadcast equipment with systems already installed in China, Korea, and Europe, and looks set to be at the forefront of EPM enabled systems.

"By utilising DAB for the BT Livetime service," said Chris Hutchings, Director Ventures, BT Wholesale, "we believe that we can gain first mover advantage in the UK market for live TV to mobile services. DAB is established in the UK whereas DVB-H will not have available spectrum until after analogue switch off. This creates an opportunity that BT Livetime is seeking to exploit. Further, the BT Livetime service also benefits from the flexibility of IP so that additional services can be added to increase the value of the proposition. Importantly, BT Livetime is a fully integrated solution which has been deliberately designed to be transmission technology agnostic to allow it to change with and adapt to the emerging technological picture over the coming years."

"The UK is the latest country to be trialling mobile multimedia technology," said Nick Banks, RadioScape's Broadcast Infrastructure Manager. "Our flexible software defined radio architecture allows us to provide support for Enhanced Packet Mode in both our multiplexer equipment and our field and monitoring receivers, allowing customers to trial this technology in live networks. Mobile multimedia content delivery is clearly going to happen but the delivery technology varies between countries - fortunately, our support for both EPM and DMB allows the broadcaster to make the choice."

The WorldDAB Forum recently endorsed DMB, which has also been approved by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), and is currently in the process of ratifying the EPM standard.

"Broadcasting television-like services to handheld devices is a rapidly evolving area of technology and it is clear that minor variations are needed to cope with local conditions, spectrum availability etc.," explained Annika Nyberg, President of the WorldDAB Forum. "WorldDAB has therefore endorsed two DAB-based applications to allow broadcasters regional flexibility in delivering multimedia to mobile devices. The key is that they are both DAB applications and DAB is a proven, robust technology for delivering high quality signals on the move with spectrum already available. This is why so many countries are currently conducting trials and tests to integrate video and multimedia services on existing DAB networks using these applications."

About RadioScape

RadioScape(R) Ltd. is the world's only developer of end-to-end digital audio broadcasting solutions giving RadioScape unmatched systems knowledge and enabling it to ensure that customers receive the highest levels of quality, robustness and reception at all stages. Its Digital Radio broadcast suite is used extensively throughout the world including the largest DAB installation to date -- the UK's commercial DAB network.

Its innovative Software Defined Digital Radio(TM) approach has made it a leader in DAB and DMB technology with its DAB receiver modules being extensively used by many of the world's leading consumer electronics manufacturers. The company has announced that it is working on DRM capability that will result in true, multi-standard, digital radio receivers.

Founded in 1996, RadioScape's investors include Atlas Venture, Royal Bank Ventures, Scottish Equity Partners, JAFCO, Texas Instruments, Yasuda Enterprise Development, iGlobe Partners, Psion and NTL. RadioScape is headquartered in London, England with offices in Singapore and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit http://www.radioscape.com

RadioScape is a registered trademark of RadioScape Limited. All other trademarks are acknowledged.

For an image of RadioScape broadcast systems, please go to http://www.radioscape.com/Resource_Library/Images/Broadcast/

About BT

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions serving customers in Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific. Its principal activities include networked IT services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and internet products and services.

BT consists principally of three lines of business:

--BT Retail, providing a comprehensive range of communications and related services to more than 20m UK consumers and businesses.

--BT Wholesale, providing network services and solutions within the UK to more than 600 fixed and mobile operators and service providers including the provision of broadband and private circuits.

--BT Global Services, providing networked IT services to meet the needs of multi-site organisations globally. BT Global Services operates in more than 130 countries and also offers international carrier services.

In the year ended 31 March 2005, BT Group's turnover was GBP 18,623 million with profit before goodwill amortisation, exceptional items and taxation of GBP 2,085 million.

BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group.

For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt