RadioScape Announces Immediate Plans to Support Digital Radio Switch-On in France
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London, UK - 19th March 2007 - RadioScape announced today that it will immediately extend its current multi-standard radio product line to support all digital standards required for the French market. This will enable the development of multi-standard radio receivers capable of supporting DAB based standards including T-DMB and DAB+, as well as DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale), and current analogue standards AM and FM.
On March 12th, 2007, Industry Minister, Mr Franois Loos, issued a ministerial decree for the transition to Digital Radio in France based on a multi-standard approach. The AM band (short, medium and long wave) will experience a renewal through the adoption of digital standard, DRM. In addition, the T-DMB implementation of the DAB standard will be used in both Band III and L-Band, with the likely incorporation of the recently announced DAB+ standard.
John Hall, RadioScape's CEO, commented: "This is a breakthrough moment for the French radio market. Finally, the transition to digital has begun and, as expected, both DAB and DRM standards are joint winners. We will support both the receivers market with our multi-standard module product line, as well as the broadcast market with our proven DAB broadcast systems. Given our significant experience in DAB and DRM standards we are uniquely positioned to enable the French market to go digital."
Multi-standard DAB/DRM receivers now shipping
Over the past 3 years, RadioScape has pioneered the development of multi-standard radio receiver technology to support both DAB and DRM standards. RadioScape is now shipping the award winning RS500 module, which provides reception for DAB (Band-III & L-Band), DRM (LW, MW & SW), FM-RDS, AM (LW & MW) including AMSS, automatic alternative frequency switching (AFS), EPG (DAB), SD-CARD Recording (DAB/DRM) and playback of MP3/WMA files.
Andrew Dewhurst, RadioScape's Product Manager for Receivers, added: "The requirements of the emerging Digital Radio market in France are a perfect natural transition of existing standards support for our multi-standard product line. We can immediately assist manufacturers in the development of their receiver product plans given the significant expertise already developed with the current generation of DAB and DRM radios. Our multi-standard module family is currently being enhanced to incorporate support for additional DAB implementations, including DAB+, and will be available later in the year."
Broadcast systems already support multiple DAB implementations
RadioScape's Broadcast Systems product line already supports multiple implementations of the DAB standard including DAB audio, T-DMB and DAB-IP, with DAB+ coming later this year. Over 85 broadcast systems are 'on air' at major broadcasters and network operators around the world to support DAB audio as well as DMB based multi-media and mobile TV transmissions.
European broadcast industry eyes multi-standard future
The announcement this week in France follows a year of close collaboration between Radio France, RMC, RTL, SIRTI (regional radios), NRJ and the Lagardere group radio stations who joined forces with the objective of obtaining statutory regulation for the introduction of broadcasting standards, which would give the green light to the adoption of digital radio.
A number of countries across Europe and Asia have already adopted the DAB standard, but the emergence of DRM for the digitisation of the AM bands is a more recent phenomena. Already 18 broadcasters are now broadcasting on DRM with over 28 services now on air, amounting to over 230 hours per day.
In the UK the BBC has announced that it is to undertake a trial of DRM, which will allow it to explore digital radio using medium-wave frequencies. The trial will broadcast BBC Radio Devon using the new technology in the Plymouth area and will last for a year from the end of April.
About RadioScape
RadioScape® plc. is the world's only developer of end-to-end digital audio broadcasting solutions giving RadioScape unmatched systems knowledge and enabling it to ensure that customers receive the highest levels of quality, robustness and reception at all stages.
Its Digital Radio Broadcast Suite is used extensively throughout the world including the largest DAB installation to date - the UK's commercial DAB network. This is also being used to roll out Mobile TV services using Digital Multimedia Broadcasting in many countries, particularly in the Asia Pacific region where there are already many installations in China.
RadioScape's innovative Software Defined Digital Radio(TM) approach has made it a leader in DAB and DMB technology with its DAB receiver modules being extensively used by many of the world's leading consumer electronics manufacturers. The company has recently begun shipping its first generation of DRM/DAB modules, enabling multi-standard consumer receivers to reach retail this year.
Founded in 1996, RadioScape's investors include Atlas Ventures, Royal Bank Ventures Investments, Scottish Equity Partners, JAFCO, Texas Instruments, Yasuda Enterprise Development, iGlobe Partners, Psion and Arqiva. RadioScape is headquartered in London, England with offices in Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.radioscape.com
For RadioScape images, please go to radioscape.com/Resource_Library/Images
For more information, please contact:
Caroline Skipworth
RadioScape plc +44 20 7317 1996
Caroline.Skipworth@radioscape.com
Nigel Robson
Vortex PR
+44 1481 233080
Nigel@vortexpr.com
