LiveU expands hybrid IP satellite and cellular service across Europe and North Africa
LiveU is to expand the availability of its hybrid global IP satellite service, which works in combination with its HEVC bonding technology. Increasing the range of options, the new solution – which is based on Eutelsat’s KA-SAT – will allow customers to use satellite or cellular connectivity seamlessly, streamlining both billing structure and workflow.
LiveU will be offering its customers in Europe Ka satellite airtime in combination with its current cellular roaming data packages. Using this hybrid solution, operators don’t have to choose manually which network to use; the connectivity choice is made automatically based on a combination of signal strength and cost-effectiveness. LiveU will be working with Eutelsat whose KA-SAT satellite wide beam footprint extends right across Europe and parts of North Africa.
The collaboration utilises NewsSpotter, Eutelsat’s state-of-the-art Satellite News Gathering (SNG) product, developed in response to an increasing demand to transfer rich media content from the field. NewsSpotter is said to be highly efficient via extremely compact satellite terminals, and also innovative as it provides native bidirectional IP connectivity, facilitating integration with modern news production and media content management workflows. Being Ka-band-based, NewsSpotter terminals are both compact and portable enough to fit in a backpack and be mounted on a small car.
Customers can now take advantage of LiveU’s LU600 HEVC solution to use satellite connectivity whenever desirable. This is a fully bundled service with a single-point-of-contact for support and a single bill. A range of packages are available.
Zion Eilam, Regional VP Sales (EMEA), LiveU, commented: “This is a truly integrated service offering, bringing together the best of both worlds via market leaders in their respective fields. Making this as seamless and effortless as possible for our customers was essential, ensuring that they can concentrate on bringing high-quality live content to their viewers. Partnering with Eutelsat has achieved that, complementing our existing hybrid Ku-satellite service solution.”
“Undoubtedly the contribution market, especially news, has changed significantly in recent years, with speed of deployment and mobility – at realistic price points – increasingly taking center stage. NewsSpotter was a clear response to that and this collaboration with LiveU is the natural next step,” said Gerry O’Sullivan, executive vice president, Global TV and Video with Eutelsat.