SAT>IP Alliance Aims To Extend Role of Satellite Broadcasting in Multiscreen Ecosystems

Six leading satellite operators and manufacturers — SES, HISPASAT, Panasonic, NAGRA, ALi, and MaxLinear — have officially announced the SAT>IP Alliance, a coalition initiated last year to develop compatible hardware and software for the SAT>IP technology, which converts satellite signals into IP at the reception point.

The technology uses a small server, which may be located in the satellite dish or in the user’s home, and distributes the signal to IP devices, such as tablets, smartphones, and laptops. This technology makes it possible to provide high-quality content via satellite more efficiently to all the screens in a home, using pre-existing networks in the building. SAT>IP is currently a European standard (CENELEC EN50585) compatible with satellite and ground networks.

The SAT>IP Alliance, which will be constituted in Luxembourg as a non-profit organization, will be in charge of developing SAT>IP-related strategy and creating working groups through its executive committee. The main aims of the Alliance will be to promote the use of the SAT>IP protocol throughout the industry, facilitate certification of new devices, and develop and improve the SAT>IP standard.

Over the past years, nearly 40 manufacturers have supported the SAT>IP standard by developing compatible products. The Alliance is intended to be an open forum for all manufacturers, satellite operators, broadcasters, and service providers seeking to get involved in developing and improving a key standard for the future of satellite content distribution in multiscreen ecosystems.