Si sapeva già che Delphi, già protagonista del mercato della radio satellitare americana, avrebbe avuto un ruolo importante e la notizia non aggiunge niente di nuovo. Riporto qui il comunicato stampa diffuso sul circuito Marketwire perché in esso si fa esplicitamente riferimento al 2009 come data di inizio del servizio in Italia, smentendo indirettamente quanto si sapeva finora. Nessuna fretta, il mercato ha pazienza. Ma è saggio dare altri 12 mesi di vantaggio alle altre alternative digitali?
Delphi and WORLDSPACE Satellite Radio Announce Development Agreements for European Satellite Radio Receivers
Delphi to Design Original Equipment and Aftermarket Receivers
January 07, 2008: 08:00 AM EST
Delphi Corp. and WORLDSPACE® Satellite Radio announced today that the two companies have an agreement in which Delphi will design the first WORLDSPACE satellite radio mobile receiver for the European aftermarket based on a WORLDSPACE-developed reference design. In addition, the two companies announced that WORLDSPACE has selected Delphi to be a lead designer for its European OEM receiver and reception system applications that will also be based on WORLDSPACE’s reference designs. Delphi made the announcement at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show.
Designed by Delphi for European aftermarket applications, the WORLDSPACE aftermarket receiver will receive the signal from the WORLDSPACE satellite which covers the European continent. The satellite digital radio (SDR) standard that was approved by the technical committee of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) in November 2006 is the core of the technology that WORLDSPACE is implementing in its satellite radio communication networks in Europe. It combines terrestrial repeaters and satellites and permits the most efficient use of the spectrum allocated for satellite radio (12.5 MHz from 1479.5 to 1492), thus maximizing digital capacity while maintaining excellent service quality, even in difficult reception environments such as urban city centers.
The aftermarket receiver is expected to be launched in parallel with the start of WORLDSPACE’s mobile service beginning in Italy in 2009. WORLDSPACE expects to begin broadcasting 40 to 50 channels of commercial-free music, news, talk, entertainment and sports programming 24 hours a day. WORLDSPACE plans to use the most advanced digital audio technology available today (MPEG-4 accPLUS v.2). Delphi’s receiver designs will leverage the company’s satellite radio expertise and feature the advanced mobile service capabilities built into the new WORLDSPACE system.
“Based on Delphi’s long history in providing satellite radio systems, Delphi can offer high-class technologies and superior functionality in a receiver designed for the growing European satellite radio market,” said Dr. Andreas Hunscher, Delphi managing director of reception systems.
Delphi will lead the development of WORLDSPACE’s receiver and reception applications at its European Satellite Radio Center of Excellence in Bad Salzdetfurth, Germany. At the facility, Delphi has the unique capability to merge expertise in high-performance antenna systems with advanced receiver technology.
“We have always been, and will continue to be, staunch supporters of the global introduction and growth of satellite radio across the globe,” said Ken Erickson, lead executive for Delphi’s entertainment and communications product business unit. “This announcement reiterates our commitment to the satellite radio category.”
