Canal Digital Sweden Selects Pace Networks for Nationwide Upgrade of Headends

SALTAIRE, England, January 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- Pace Networks MDC1000 Supports Migration to Digital TV and HD Services

Pace Networks today announced that Canal Digital Sweden, part of the leading Nordic television distributor network and ISP, Canal Digital, will deploy the Pace MDC1000 head end platform to support its nationwide upgrade of SMATV head ends.

Implementing the Pace MDC1000 compact head end platform will enable Canal Digital Sweden to expand its existing broadcast infrastructure to deliver Digital TV, including HDTV, with minimum disruption to customers. The Pace MDC1000 is an easy to install and adaptable solution, enabling Canal Digital to rapidly deploy digital services to smaller SMATV and cableTV networks, including previously hard to access areas such as suburbs and rural communities. The system can be managed remotely for diagnostics, configuration, maintenance, and upgrades, reducing the time and cost of sending out engineers to specific sites.

Transmitting over 200 hours worth of HDTV content per day via 14 HD channels, and with more than 100 standard definition TV channels, Canal Digital has the leading HD position in Sweden. The deployment of the Pace MDC1000 now means the television distributor can cost-effectively manage capacity throughout these networks while supporting the delivery of an increasingly sophisticated range of digital services to its growing subscriber base.

Karl-Gustav Niska, Technical Director, Canal Digital comments, "Our work with Pace allows us to upgrade our SMATV and off net cable TV networks without disrupting existing services, and to maximise the way bandwidth is managed locally to deliver a broad range of new services. The deal with Pace is a pivotal step in helping us create a future-ready digital infrastructure."

Andrew Ward, General Manager at Pace Networks adds, "Broadcasters are looking for ways to cost-effectively deliver digital and HD services to offer new viewing experiences to their customers. In a climate where success is defined by the quality and breadth of content offered, our work with Canal Digital Sweden demonstrates how the MDC1000 can enable a painless and efficient migration. Working together, we are creating a platform that can deliver advanced digital services and open up the market to further IPTV and broadband services in the future."

About Pace plc

Pace plc (LSE:PIC) is a leading technology developer for the global payTV industry, working across satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. Pace has one of the world's most experienced specialist engineering teams, developing intelligent and innovative products and services for both payTV operators and retail markets across the world.

Pace employs over 1200 people, in locations that include the UK, the USA, France, India and China. Pace's international headquarters are in Saltaire, West Yorkshire, UK. For more information on Pace, please visit http://www.pace.com

About Pace Networks

Pace Networks, a specialised division of Pace plc, is opening up the market for advanced digital services by creating innovative solutions for operators of small cable networks worldwide. The Pace Networks range of products provides a robust platform for the delivery of digital services for TV-led home entertainment.

For more information on Pace Networks, please visit http://www.pace.com/corporate/networks

About Canal Digital

Canal Digital is a DigitalTVcompany owned by Telenor Broadcast Holding. Canal Digital has more than three million households as customers in the Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland).

For more information on Canal Digital, please visit http://www.canaldigital.se

For further information, contact:

    
    Lucy Houghton
    Chameleon PR
    pace@chameleonpr.com
    +44(0)20-7680-5500