Advanced Television

Pace demo DVB-T2

September 10, 2008

From Colin Mann in Amsterdam

Pace plc is demonstrating the first set-top box capable of receiving and displaying DVB-T2 HD content at IBC 2008.

Pace's prototype consists Pace plc is demonstrating the first set-top box capable of receiving and displaying DVB-T2 HD content at IBC 2008.

Pace's prototype consists of the world's first DVB-T2 front-end (the silicon tuner TDA18211 and a prototype of the forthcoming demodulator TDA10055) from NXP Semiconductors and a Pace high definition terrestrial set-top box which will receive a live MPEG-4 HD stream from an Enensys DVB-T2 Modulator based at the DVB stand at the show.

DVB-T2 brings efficiencies of between 30% and 50% in its use of spectrum compared to DVB-T and is expected to be a key enabler to the roll out of high definition TV in the UK over Freeview.

Darren Fawcett, Chief Technologist for Wireless Systems at Pace plc commented: "The take up of high definition services within mature TV markets is picking up speed, and is expected to grow substantially over the next five years. But this HD content is currently in the cable and satellite domains. To enable terrestrial services to compete effectively with the other platforms, DVB-T2 is an essential move. As we saw with the shift to the DVB-S2 standard for satellite services, the extra efficiencies in the use of the spectrum will make the option of delivering HD via DTT viable."

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