PANELLISTS
34
April 2016
Wireless cellular-bas offers more flexibili
IntelsatOne Flex For Enterprise introduced
Intelsat has launched the IntelsatOne Flex for Enterprise , a managed service that allows regional and global enterprise network service providers to efficiently access and incorporate high throughput satellite ( HTS ) technology into new and existing private networks . The new service will deliver instant access to Intelsat Epic ’ s high-speed broadband connectivity , where the virtualised network will enable customers to flexibly allocate and move bandwidth to meet surges in demand or new geographic requirements . It will also offer integration with terrestrial MPLS ( multi-protocol label switching ) or Ethernet networks .
Rohde & Schwarz offers low-power TV transmitter
Rohde & Schwarz has extended its energyefficient R & S Tx9 transmitter generation with low-power UHF transmitters that support the DVB-T , DVB-T2 and ISDB- Tb digital standards . The air-cooled R & S TLU9 family of ultra-compact , low-power transmitter comes with numerous features , including TSoIP ( transport stream over IP ) functionality , adaptive digital predistortion and DVB-T to DVB-T2 switchover at the press of a button . Another highlight is the R & S TLU9 optioning system , which makes it possible to integrate multiple optional hardware components such as a satellite receiver , DVB-T / DVB-T2 receiver or components for redundancy configurations within the transmitter housing .
Next Month @ Distribution
Set-top Boxes for New TV Platforms
PANELLISTS
Dr Ali R Ebadi
Senior Vice-President Space Systems Development Measat Satellite Systems
Lim Kian Soon
Head , Satellite Singtel
Martin Coleman
Executive Director Satellite Interference Reduction Group
While traditional satellite and microwave links remain important transmission platforms , wireless cellular-based technology offers an attractive alternative , as Shawn Liew finds out .
Wireless cellular transmission , which has at its core , cellular bonding technology , is now well established across the world . According to Ronen Artman , VP of marketing at LiveU , it has also changed the contribution landscape forever .
He tells APB : “ The technology has changed the way that broadcasters , and increasingly online media outlets — in many cases for whom live , high-quality video was previously unaffordable — think and work . This dovetails with the changing way that news is consumed and the viewer expectations that have grown around that .”
As the market begins to mature , LiveU has also expanded its approach ; for instance , the company has launched the LU Smart mobile app to complement its flagship LU500 live video field backpack . What remains consistent across LiveU ’ s product family is portability , says Artman . “ This also improves speed of deployment , signal robustness — even in extreme circumstances — and picture quality , combined with as low latency as possible . We have also seen the rise of hybrid solutions combining cellular bonding with more traditional satellite newsgathering ( SNG ) equipment .”
He goes on to cite two standout Asian customer deployments in 2015 , the first of which saw LiveU collaborate with Diadem and Sony Professional Solutions China to showcase a joint hybrid digital satellite newsgathering ( DSNG ) vehicle at the BIRTV show in China . The integrated solution combined Sony ’ s video source with LiveU ’ s LU700-SV video encoder , LU500 cellular uplink units , and Xtender antenna array , together with a BGAN / VSAT terminal and Adinno seei . tv webcast .
The solution offers broadcasters the ability to switch between the static LU700- SV encoder and LU500 backpacks to transmit different video angles in real time , while benefiting from the additional resiliency provided by the Xtender and BGAN / VSAT antennas .
The second deployment saw Singapore ’ s MediaCorp increase its group-wide deployment of LiveU solutions , as the terrestrial broadcaster equipped all its news bureaus in China , Hong Kong , Japan , South Korea and other regions with LU500
Singapore terrestrial broadcaster MediaCorp has equipped all its news bureaus in China , Hong
Kong , Japan , South Korea and other regions with LU500 backpacks and LU-Smart mobile apps .
backpacks and LU-Smart mobile apps .
And in a bid to be a key enabler for the growth of live news and sports coverage in Asia-Pacific , Ideal-Live , an equipment rental service for professional mobile video gathering , was recently launched by systems integrator Ideal Systems .
In collaboration with Dejero , Ideal- Live uses Dejero ’ s new Live + EnGo bonded cellular transmitters with pre-installed cellular SIM cards from multiple localised mobile operators for immediate live broadcast . What , then , are some of the key advantages that cellular transmission offer over traditional satellite and microwave solutions , APB asks Fintan Mc Kiernan , CEO of Ideal Systems for South-east Asia .
Regulatory restrictions come readily to mind , as Mc Kiernan explains : “ There is a legacy of regulations around uplinking TV signals to satellite , which were no doubt written before modern vehicle-mounted DSNG uplink antennas were invented . These laws , regulations and licensing requirements are different across Asia and are managed by different government bodies in each country .
“ For an international news team or sports production company who wants to fly in to cover an event , bringing a satellite flyaway kit may not be an option as it would take too long to research the local regulatory requirements in that country , apply for
a licence or permit , and have it issued . Hence , using a bonded cellular solution with standard 3G or 4G networks is a no-brainer .”
Cost , naturally , is another key consideration . Highly specialised satellite uplinking equipment is expensive to buy or rent , and it is also costly to be shipped to the required location , which also typically requires a specialist satellite engineer to set up on-site , Mc Kiernan points out .
He compares this to the Dejero Live + EnGo , which weighs 1.8kg and is able to commence live broadcast at the touch of a button . “ Thus , transport costs are not an issue , and there is no need for in-field engineers , all leading to cost-savings over conventional satellite methods .”
The small form factor of the bonded cellular transmitter also allows for faster in-field deployment and more flexibility . For instance , the transmitter can be used in the tight confines of buildings when mobile coverage is adequate , which can be a challenge for DSNG vans and OB trucks , says Mc Kiernan , particularly in a breaking news scenario where immediate reporter and camera position changes are required .
Typically , DSNG solutions provide a one-way transmit to the satellite . Bonded cellular solutions , on the other hand , provide a bidirectional connection . This manageability can be