UPC to Deploy Pace HD Set-Top Box

Pace, a technology developer for the payTV industry, has developed a new high definition (HD) set top box for European cable TV company UPC Broadband, the European division of Liberty Global, to help the operator to meet targets as it digitizes its cable network and rolls out HD services across its European footprint (9 countries).

Pace stated that the environmental benefits of the new set-top box will allow UPC to bring HD services to subscriber homes efficiently and with minimum environmental impact as part of the operator's digital TV rollout program. The deployment is scheduled to start from early 2010.

Pace said that the box for UPC has been created under Pace's Low Environmental Initiative (LEI), which is delivering a number of important energy related benefits to UPC including lower power consumption, reduced packaging and reduced use of hazardous substances in manufacture. Importantly, Pace said the UPC product has achieved stand-by power consumption of less than 1 watt.

Eric Lennon, Chief Technology Officer of UPC Broadband, said, "We are very please that Pace, as a long-term partner to UPC, has continued to develop set-top boxes in line with our requirements including those for reducing power consumption levels of our digital TV service. This is increasingly important as we launch more sophisticated services such as high definition and work to achieve the right balance between technical innovation and environmental performance."

Mathias Hautefort, Pace President, said, "We are delighted to have worked with UPC to deliver against their environmental targets. Pace has consistently gone beyond the standards, always meeting legislative targets in advance of industry deadlines, to give our customers complete confidence that their products are not just at the leading edge of digital TV technology, but also ahead of the curve in environmental performance.

"We believe our products are among the most energy efficient consumer electronics products in the world, but our environmental commitment is not limited to set-top box performance. We have also taken action to reduce the environmental impact across all aspects of our business, from our buildings to our operations and supply chain. With our focus now on the supply chain, we have already completed the first phase of a supply chain review, which will enable us to work with our supply partners to improve the entire environmental footprint of our set-top box products. We look forward to our future work with UPC as we continue to lead in the design and development of low environmental impact set-top boxes."

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