Novelsat aims to increase satellite bandwidth

“If there is a single industry where our technology will provide a real bonus, then that is sports,” says David Furstenberg, co-chairman at satellite bandwidth optimisation company NovelSat, whose modulation technology, NS3, claims to increase satellite bandwidth by up to 78%.

Novelsat was set up four years ago with the express aim of increasing the spectrum efficiency of DVB-S2 and, according to Furstenberg, has been “working in dungeons and out of sight” ever since. “We have created the 3G of satellites, or 3GSat as we call it,” he says. “We are adding on top of DVB-S2 a similar capacity boost as 3G did.”

According to the company, NS3 uses a “unique and powerful” mix of algorithms that normally tend to cancel each other out. Applying these in certain ways leads to increases in satellite bandwidth by 20% to 55% over current DVB-S2 and DVB-S standards respectively for 36MHz transponders, and up to 78% for 72Mhz transponders with the highest data rate of up to 358Mbps.

Obvious benefits include being able to transmit more HDTV, SDTV and 3DTV channels, as well as increased data communication over an identical link budget and transponders, and the company is actively targeting the sports market.

“Take ice hockey,” says Furstenberg. “The speed of the puck means that you have to use much more bandwidth than if you’re showing a slower game. This technology is going to have a significant impact on the ability to do that.”

The product range includes a Modulator, Demodulator, Modem and ASIC, and the company will be showcasing it all to broadcasters in a whisper suite off the IBC showfloor. With 32 trials underway already though, and with Furstenberg’s promise that the first two or three official users of the tech to be unveiled will be sports broadcasters, chances are it will be firmly on the showfloor by 2012.

“Sport has driven HD and 3D and will continue to drive the industry,” he says. “Sport is therefore what we are focussed on and we are already engaged with large players in both the US and European markets.”