Satellite television broadcaster BSkyB has announced a number of new innovations as it aims to maintain its competitive position in the UK -- Further details have emerged of the broadband service due to be launched in the autumn. It will be delivered in the form of an application that is downloaded to a broadband connected personal computer. The launch will pre-empt the introduction of a similar peer-to-peer service planned by the BBC, which is due to enter a limited public trial in the autumn. It also comes as cable operators are rolling out video-on-demand services in the UK. The Sky Movies broadband service will offer hundreds of films licensed to Sky, which will be available to download and even transfer to a portable device. The Sky Sports service will offer over a thousand video clips, available to over five million subscribers to Sky Sports packages.�It�s just fantastic,� said BSkyB chief executive, saying that the service would offer �high levels of personalisation and recommendation� when it launches in the autumn. Sky is also planning to launch a mobile service that will allow users to remotely program their Sky+ digital video recorder.
What was once a simple, unidirectional flow of electricity from centralized power plants to passive consumers is evolving into a complex, intelligent network where millions of distributed resources actively participate in grid operations. This transformation, powered by smart grid technologies, represents one of the most significant infrastructure shifts of our time. It promises to reshape how we generate, distribute, and consume energy. At its core, the smart grid represents far more than mere digitization of existing infrastructure. This bi-directional capability is fundamental to understanding why smart grids are becoming the backbone of modern energy systems, facilitating everything from real-time demand response to the integration of renewable energy sources. Smart Grid Market Development By 2030, smart grid technologies are projected to cover nearly half of the global electrical grid, up dramatically from just 24 percent in 2025. This expansion is underpinned by explosive gr...