MHz Addresses the Technical and Operational Challenges for Streamlining Today’s Mobile News Facilities at IBC 2010

MHz will highlight opportunities to drive cost reduction

At IBC 2010(stand no. 11.F20) Megahertz (MHz), an international independent systems integrator, will be showcasing the technical solutions its offers news broadcasters for reducing the costs of designing and building Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) facilities in the face of the ever-increasing demand for digital satellite communication capacity.

The worldwide market demand for digital satellite communication at Ka-band is expanding not only for broadcasters but also for consumer, mobile and military applications. At IBC2010 MHz will highlight its ability to meet its customer’s challenges by enabling improved communications and increased productivity for broadcast satellite contributions. MHz will highlight opportunities to drive cost reduction through the implementation of improved mobile satellite systems, increased data throughput and lower power requirements thereby making DSNG facilities more accessible to smaller news operations including regional news broadcasters.

Historically most broadcast satellites have used C-band (typically 5.925 GHz to6.425 GHz for uplink), Ku-band (13.750 to 14.500 GHz for uplink) or more recently DBS-band (17.300 GHz - 18.100 GHz for uplink). Technological enhancements in recent years have brought about the use of higher frequencies at Ka-band (26.5 GHz to40 GHz for uplink) as a means of capitalising on further operating efficiencies.

“With the increased demand for satellite capacity and recent improvements in satellite communications technology, we are seeing a continuing trend towards the use of higher frequencies—withthe26.5 GHz to40 GHz for use in Ka-band satellites fast becoming a reality. Many leading satellite operators are launching Ka-band services to meet this demand,” said Steve Burgess, Technical Director at Megahertz Broadcast. “In addition, the intrinsic design of DSNG vehicles is changing as the greater integration of IP technologies enables improved workflow efficiencies and more straightforward satellite systems to be implemented—allowing the satellite links to be used more economically. With these efficiencies the requirement for powering the uplink is reduced leading to smaller onboard power systems which will ultimately result in smaller and more economical vehicles being built.”

Burgess continues, “Our long-standing experience with RF technologies positions Megahertz well for the implementation of this new technology and enables us to guide customers through the challenges of deploying such technology and minimizing the risk by benefiting from the lower costs offered by transitioning their operations to Ka-band. In some cases this can provide cost savings of up 25%-30% on the build out of smaller DSNG vehicles which is particularly attractive to news organisations that are continually having budgets eroded—including those smaller regional news operations and remote international bureaus.”

The MHz teams are conversant in both the technical and operational issues confronting today’s broadcasters and media owners. Their in-depth knowledge of broadcast and IT solutions makes them an ideal partner to address the challenges of deploying new technology—whether Ka-band, High Definition or 3D—whileminimising the risk. Proof of this is MHz’s extensive global experience in delivering turnkey solutions along the complete content distribution chain—from venues, stadiums and AVIT applications to the build out of OBs, high-definition studios and server-based playout through to the installation of earth stations.