Quality assurance of DVB satellite transmissions is to be advanced by Eutelsat Communications, in time for the 2012 Olympics, which are anticipated to be the planet’s most-watched sporting event.
The breakthrough, which was announced at IBC 2011, is part of a global industry-supported initiative that aims to safeguard satellite signal services.
The effort is supported by the global broadcast community, the satellite industry and through three international associations: the World Broadcasting Unions-International Satellite Operations Group (WBU-ISOG), the GVF (Global VSAT Forum) and sIRG (satellite Interference Reduction Group).
Through this new initiative, Carrier Identification will be integrated into transmission parameters for all SNG transmissions and new DVB broadcasts from June 30, 2012. Simple firmware enhancements to existing operational uplink equipment have already been developed by key manufacturers. Carrier Identification will enable Eutelsat to more efficiently identify transmissions to its satellites and accelerate coordination with earth station operators.
“This first critical step enables us to give an even higher level of assurance of quality to our broadcast customers”, said Andrew Wallace, Eutelsat’s CCO, in a statement. “It is a reflection of how our industry continues to grow and how, through collaboration, new technologies can be leveraged to maintain the high standards of service that the broadcast community expects.”
In a statement, David Hartshorn, secretary general of the GVF, Dick Tauber, Chairman of WBU-ISOG and VP transmission systems and new technology at the CNN News Group, and Martin Coleman, Chairman of the sIRG, jointly declared: “Carrier Identification is an important example of what is achievable through the active cooperation of broadcasters, service providers and satellite operators. It is part of a broader vision to further elevate standards of quality for all satellite-delivered programming.”
Eutelsat’s announcement was made during a quality assurance summit held at IBC, jointly by WBU-ISOG, the GVF, sIRG and the RFI-EUI (Radio Frequency Interference End-User Initiative).
