SGI JAPAN DEVELOPS ADSL TV BROADCASTING SYSTEM.

TOKYO, Oct 8 Asia Pulse - SGI Japan Ltd. has developed an ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) video-streaming system that lets users watch television shows and access video-on-demand services via ordinary phone lines.

The ADSL streaming system digitizes and compresses satellite and other broadcast programming and sends it over the Internet. The digitized and compressed data is received via an ADSL router by a special set-top box connected to a TV, enabling users to receive the broadcasts without the installation costs of cable.

Offering the same level of image quality as terrestrial TV broadcasts, the comprehensive system includes data encryption functions for enhanced security as well as payment collection, customer management and product management capabilities.

SGI Japan has delivered its first system to the Softbank Corp. (TSE:9984) group at a cost of around 1.5 billion yen (US$12.07 million). Softbank will use the system to begin trial broadband TV broadcasting this month and aims to launch full-scale service in November. User fees, which do not include ADSL service charges, are expected to cost around 2,500 yen a month.

(Nikkei) 08-10 1159