Pace Networks' MultiDweller to help Quadriga bring new tailored Portal to hotels

Online, November 19, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Saltaire, West Yorkshire, UK, 19 November 2009: Pace Networks, a specialised division within Pace plc, has announced that Quadriga Worldwide Ltd., a strategic business partner to many of the world's leading hotels, has selected MultiDweller® as part of its next-generation technology which delivers a unique, tailored portal for the TV in guest rooms.

MultiDweller will provide the convergence technology through which Quadriga will deliver to hoteliers a new, fully-tailored guest experience, enhancing their in-room communication with guests, providing new content choice and allowing hoteliers to take advantage of new commercial opportunities. MultiDweller has been specifically designed to overcome the technology constraints associated with difficult-to-access multiple-occupancy buildings, and is highly suited to the hotel environment.

This next-generation technology, which will enable hotels to provide guests with a host of new content choice, from hotel and local information to financial and travel details, required a non-proprietary solution able to dramatically increase the available bandwidth. Based on the DOCSIS open standard, MultiDweller converts the existing cabling infrastructure into a localised high-speed IP network and acts as a mini head-end to distribute individualised broadcast, broadband and internet services to multiple users. Crucially, as MultiDweller can output to both Ethernet and co-axial cable, the platform can be made available to hotels regardless of their existing infrastructure - whether Ethernet, coax or both.

Mark Budie, Technology Director at Quadriga, commented: "Infrastructure constraints can prove extremely challenging for hoteliers, so MultiDweller was a natural fit as it allows us to bring enhanced digital services to hotel rooms cost-effectively and efficiently. The DOCSIS-based solution opens up access to massive bandwidth, allowing us to offer to our customers a new generation of truly converged digital services - well beyond internet access and entertainment - with minimum disruption to the hotel's business. Because of this, it also represents a strategic choice for us, and Pace will be a key partner in delivering this next-generation technology."
MultiDweller is the first product from Pace's Network division to go to market. As it avoids the need to carry out costly infrastructure modifications or cable upgrades, it can be used by service providers worldwide to deliver a wide range of interactive digital TV and broadband services cost-effectively.

Peter Balchin, General Manager of Pace Networks, commented: "Our agreement with Quadriga is a significant milestone for Pace Networks, as we help create a viable return on investment for our customers to connect any subscriber, in any building, anywhere in the world. Without the need for any modification or additional cabling, MultiDweller opens up digital access using the existing network infrastructure so is an extremely cost effective and rapidly-deployed solution for any hard-to-reach consumers."

The introduction of the new MultiDweller platform demonstrates Pace's long-term strategy to diversify its product range, drawing on its long-standing technology expertise from across its business teams. Designed to offer complete cross-platform flexibility for service providers, MultiDweller is compatible with satellite, cable, terrestrial and IP, capable of switching any source onto the local distribution network to reach end-user devices.

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About MultiDweller
MultiDweller™ enables network operators to deliver a full suite of interactive digital services to customers in multi-dwelling units (MDUs), including digital video, broadband and telephony. MultiDweller provides a highly cost-effective method of converting existing coaxial distribution networks within MDUs into high-speed, triple-play, bi-directional networks, without the need for any modification or additional cabling. In the case of MultiDwelling units the free bandwidth released can then be used for other services, such as broadband internet access and VoIP. In addition, standard customer premises equipment such as cable or IP set top boxes can be seamlessly connected up to the network without the need for more infrastructure changes.

About Pace Networks
Pace Networks, a specialised division of Pace plc, is opening up the market for advanced digital services by enabling payTV and other operators to reach inaccessible subscribers. The Pace Networks range of products is already opening up hard to reach markets for TV-led home entertainment with innovative products for the 'last-mile' of the delivery chain.
For more information on Pace Networks, please visit http://www.pace.com/corporate/networks

About Quadriga Worldwide Ltd:
Quadriga is a strategic business partner to many of the world's leading hotels, enhancing the guest experience and supporting brands through market-leading technology solutions.

The company provides services to 400,000 guest rooms and operates in over 50 countries throughout Europe and the Middle East. Specifically, Quadriga has been providing internet solutions for more than eight years which are installed in 120,000 guest rooms. As the established market leader, building on 25 year's experience dedicated to the hotel sector, Quadriga works with many of Europe's leading hotel chains, including InterContinental Hotels Group, Accor, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Hilton and Sol Melia.