STC and Net Insight roll out live HD TV broadcast network
Net Insight has announced the ongoing implementation of a future-proof high capacity nationwide broadcast media network for Saudi Telecommunications Company (STC). Advanced Communication and Electronics Systems (ACES), Net Insight’s Saudi Arabian partner, is deploying the network for TV and radio broadcast media contribution and distribution for the Saudi Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).
The network from Net Insight will utilise STC’s underlying Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) infrastructure and effectively provide a modern broadcast media network, where any broadcast media service, transported in any video or audio encoding, can be set up quickly and dynamically between sites, enabling SBC to create new and highly efficient workflows.
The new broadcast media network also helps to meet SBC’s need for higher video quality, through Net Insight’s industry leading, low latency JPEG2000 compression for production and contribution feeds, while MPEG will be used for distribution feeds. The network will initially be deployed for high-definition (HD) content, however it has the capability to scale up to 4K and 8K in the future. For digital audio interconnection, the network supports the AES/EBU and MADI standards. An integral part of the contracted solution is a complete range of professional services providing expertise in planning, designing and implementing the high quality network.
“This is a market making application of technology and will change the way broadcasters cover live events and the broadcast media engineering sector in general. Essentially, our network is almost everywhere, meaning that SBC or any broadcaster who has an agreement with them can generate a live feed from anywhere in the country. Separately, this also means that broadcast media signals will be ingested IP first from their source, meaning TV audiences will have access to amazing new viewing experiences,” said Dr. Tarig M. Enaya, STC Separately Senior Vice President of Enterprise.
“Our impact and presence in the Middle-East and across a number of other geographies across the world is growing,” said Fredrik Tumegård, CEO of Net Insight. “Partnerships and deployments such as the STC implementation shine a strong light on the pathway for telcos in the region to migrate further towards a more agile, on-demand, infrastructure that the entire broadcasting world is moving towards, where network capacity can be booked and services can provisioned instantly and automatically. This is the first stage in that journey.”
The implementation is carried out through local network engineering company ACES, Net Insight’s partner in Saudi Arabia, supported by Net Insight’s professional services team. ACES is also providing managed services of the new network.
“STC’s network is now more robust and provides far greater flexibility in delivering high quality media at both a lower cost and in a reliable manner, which are key goals for the company,” said Dr. Akram Aburas, CEO of ACES.