Pace to put Wi-Fi into new set-tops

By Julian Clover
June 8, 2010 11.05 UK

Pace has said it will include Wi-Fi into “selected upcoming set-top boxes” after the digital technologies developer announced its membership of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

In a statement, the Saltaire company said it was pioneering the development of technologies to consume and share content around the home. Wi-Fi is gradually featuring in a number of set-top boxes and connected TVs, it is an integral part of Apple TV, but it also features in receivers such as the Netgem Fetch TV unit, where it is used to pull in over-the-top TV content.

The Pace boxes, certified by the Wi-Fi alliance, will be capable of transferring content over the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio wave bands via a single high-speed connection gateway, will be compatible with the 802.11a, b, g and n transmission protocols.

“Pay-TV operators have been behind all the major innovations in the TV industry, and Pace has been responsible for creating much of the technology which enables their ever-more innovative services,” commented Darren Fawcett, chief technologist, Pace. “As we move towards a converged home entertainment environment, one of the biggest challenges is moving content around the home. Our membership of the Wi-Fi Alliance will aid us in exploiting wireless technology to develop future generations of products with increased flexibility in connecting and sharing media content.”

Wi-Fi Alliance Executive Director, Edgar Figueroa added that companies such as Pace were responsible for driving adoption of technologies which advance the consumer experience with Wi-Fi products. “Pace is recognised as a pioneer in set-top box technology and is leading the way with its converged digital entertainment products.”