Belgacom selects DS2 200Mbps Powerline Technology for IPTV Home Networking

Valencia, SPAIN, 12th October, 2006 - Belgacom has chosen DS2 based powerline communications (PLC) technology to deliver room to room AV streaming in its IPTV home entertainment and communications package. Under the new IPTV package DS2 powered equipment from the Canadian company Corinex will use the existing electrical wiring to connect an ADSL modem, sending IP TV signals, to a TV set top box to deliver the signal  throughout the entire home.

A major limitation to delivering TV over DSL lines has been sending the signal from the ADSL modem to other rooms in the home. Powerline technology carries signals throughout an entire home, instantly eliminating the connectivity problem and avoiding the additional installation charges and customer distress that the drilling of holes or addition of new cabling cause. This new generation of 200 Mbps DS2-based Powerline products is the only technology that eliminates dead spots by offering the speed and Quality of Service required to distribute video throughout the whole home.   

Belgacom is continuously investigating available and emerging technology options and has selected DS2 based solutions as part of a set of options to deploy the service anywhere in the home.

"We at DS2 are delighted that Belgacom, a leader in offering IPTV services, has chosen to add Powerline technology to its IPTV rollout to provide innovative and effortless whole home coverage for its subscribers. DS2 is now the preferred PLC technology of telecom operators, including Belgacom, Telefonica, Telecom Italia, etc. DS2 based suppliers succeed in the rigorous testing and field trials by telecom operators due to the quality and performance of our 200Mbps Powerline and Coaxial AV Technologies. DS2's 200Mbps chipset is the only available technology in the market that supports  scalable commercial IPTV services over Powerlines, ready for HDTV and for multiple channels of SDTV content,” says Jorge Blasco, DS2's CEO.

DS2’s technology is compliant with the most widely sold 200Mbps Powerline standard supported by the Universal Powerline Association (UPA). UPA currently holds a near 100% market share in the high speed 200Mbps PLC product market.
 
About DS2
DS2 (www.ds2.es) is the world's leading supplier of the 200 Mbps technology that enables home networking and broadband access over power line, coaxial cable, and telephone wire. DS2 pioneered the industry with the introduction of its 200 Mbps chipsets, creating the fastest and highest performance solution for simultaneous data, digital audio and high-definition video transmission. Two pre-eminent industry groups, the Universal Powerline Association (UPA - www.upaplc.org) and the European Union consortium OPERA (Open PLC European Research Alliance) have adopted DS2 technology in support of multi-vendor standard certified product.

About Belgacom
Belgacom Group [Euronext Brussels: BELG] is the benchmark Belgian provider in the field of integrated telecommunications services. Underpinned by its experience as the country’s national operator, matched by a capacity to innovate, the Belgacom Group, through the strong brands of its subsidiaries (Belgacom, Proximus, Telindus and Skynet), provides a full range of offers, solutions and expertise in fixed and mobile networks. This is why we can ensure reliable, high-quality service for all our customers, regardless of whether they are private individuals, professionals, companies or institutions.
The Belgacom Group proposes a complete triple-play solution comprising fixed and mobile telephony, the Internet and television. It is committed to meeting the demands of its business and residential customers, and innovates in order to anticipate their future needs, drawing from the latest technological developments.
With an eye to closing the digital gap, the Group is also devoted to the development of e Services and to providing a comprehensive range of innovative applications.
For the fiscal year ending 31 December 2005, the Group posted a total revenue of €5,540 billion and a net operating profit before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of €2,098 billion, including non-recurrent items.
More information: www.belgacom.be/group

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Press Contact
Ann Whyte
DS2
+ 34 96 136 60 04
ann.whyte@ds2.es

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