(6 May 2006 2:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Intel Corporation and NDS Group plc., have announced a trial system to demonstrate the TV and video services for fixed WiMax technology.

Using the WiMax IEEE 802.16-2004 standard and the soon to be ratified IEEE 802.16e, Intel and NDS will also collaborate on industry and market development activities. The companies will engage in demonstrations to service providers and the industry to show how WiMax can offer more than broadband access with pay-TV services.

The pre-WiMax implementation takes place at Intel’s Wireless Competence Center in Kista, Sweden and demonstrates the first system to show WiMax TV services including live TV, VOD and integrated electronic program guide (EPG) delivery to an Intel Centrino mobile technology based notebook over 802.16-2004 and 802.11.

The current demonstration uses fixed pre-WiMax equipment to deliver content to the customer premises equipment (CPE) and then WiFi to send content to the notebook. Companies intend to enhance the system to support 802.16e standard in the future and to make sure that security requirements protect the interests of content providers in an aim to demonstrate pay TV services delivery over mobile WiMax to Intel based PDA and notebook devices.

NDS VideoGuard conditional access protects the business and content of the service provider and:-
>Prevents the valuable TV channel offering from being received by subscribers who have not paid for it.
>Protects content delivery efficiently using content entitlements, authorizations and tier packaging.
>Enables content purchasing scenarios (e.g. Pay-Per-View)
>Supports Video-On-Demand by enabling secure content purchasing, protecting content delivery sessions, and enabling content business scenarios like DRM.

Intel Wireless Competence Center director Anders Huge said, "Demonstrating multicast TV to notebook computers articulates the way forward for mobile computing – extending the range of services offered by WiMAX to include broadband internet access, VOIP and video. Intel Centrino mobile technology based notebooks are great entertainment devices and offer consumers the ability to take their home entertainment experience on the go."

NDS vice president product marketing Yossi Deutsch added, "We are happy to work with a major force behind WiMax technology and getting a clear message out that it is not only about broadband access but rather a full range of lucrative services, enhancing the very model behind WiMax future deployments."