BT trials mesh technology for video-on-demand services

Under a scheme announced today, BT's Wholesale arm will use mesh radio technology - which works by installing small antennae on houses and office buildings and running transmissions between them, rather than through a typical point-to-multipoint system - to trial a video-on-demand service to around 100 households near Pontypridd.

To support the trial, Yes Television, which has already partnered with the telco for broadband projects in its hometown of Cardiff and South West London, will deploy its video-on-demand software engine, and music and video content from its Yes Media division.

Video-on-demand, which allows users to view, fast forward and rewind programmes as they wish, was chosen as the core content in order to test the network to the full, but Yes said that high-speed internet services were likely to be added as the trial progresses.

The project will cover around 80 square kms around Pontypridd, including Llantrisant, Beddau, Newtown Llantwit and villages in the surrounding area. However, most of those involved will be employees of BT and Yes Television - many of which are outside the current reach of ADSL.

The two companies have already teamed up to launch interactive TV services over ADSL in a trial involving 400 homes in Hammersmith and Chiswick in 2000, and worked together on a similar scheme in Cardiff shortly after.

Launching the scheme, BT Wholesale chief executive Paul Reynolds said that it formed part of the telco's "relentless" pursuit of "technological and partnership opportunities to bring broadband to more homes and businesses".

Indeed, BT Wholesale and other divisions within the telco would appear to be ramping up their activities in this area, after ongoing criticism about their reluctance to invest in infrastructure roll out in non-metropolitan areas.

BT Retail yesterday launched a new initiative to target high-speed internet packages at SMEs across the country, and an extension of its ACT NOW scheme to jointly-fund ADSL roll out with regional public bodies and the EU.







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