IPTV@IBC2009 Special Report
Over recent years we have noticed a number of trends when it comes to
network infrastructure, and with the growing number of operators realising the
potential that an IP-based network offers, it is apparent that there is not a
simple solution that can simply be picked ‘off the shelf’ and deployed
everywhere. Different operators in different countries have different
requirements. For an infrastructure to truly deliver what the operator needs, it
is vital to listen to exactly what those needs are, rather than try to assume and
therefore not provide the desired functionality. As the deployment of hybrid
networks increases, it is even more important that the backbone that is put in
Thomas Lindplace offers reliability, high density and flexibility. , technical
director at Appear TV, reports.
A flexible approach
to hybrid IP networks
simultaneously. provide a number of generichen Appear TV was
• The number of broadcast services solutions and although this approachfounded, it was clear
on these networks was exploding. can be cost-effective we do notthat a number of
To attract subscribers, operators believe it offers the best intrends were
were implementing more complex affordability and flexibility for theemerging
W
and larger local, national and customer. Indeed it is often the casethroughout the
international programming that it is the vendor rather than theindustry:
strategies. customer that ultimately benefits• The market for digital TV head-ends
was set for a dramatic increase.
Thomas Lind.
To manage such large numbers of most from this approach.
services, a head-end would require What Appear TV has done, andThe number of multiple service
comprehensive management what we believe will become a newoperators (MSOs) requiring digital
systems with advanced features paradigm in design and manufacture,head-end platforms was set to
including component filtering, PID is to produce all the modules weexpand significantly.
filtering, PID remapping, de- believe a customer is most likely to• MSOs were starting to use multiple
networks to receive and broadcast Operators multiplexing and re-multiplexing. need and enable these modules to
services.
using IP for
Head-ends would also need to be be mixed and matched alongside the
MSOs were starting to license
video
integrated with numerous content core functionality of the task for
digital services from multiple
distribution
protection systems for descrambling which the solution is being designed.
and scrambling of services. We believe that the benefits of thissources, and re-broadcast over
can now
• Engineering resources were approach, particularly in terms ofmultiple networks; not only satellite,
determine a diminishing. cost-effectiveness, flexibility andbut also digital terrestrial, cable, IP
and mobile. Broadcast over legacy
redundancy,
As the number of operators reliability, will lead to increasing
ASI over fibre trunk networks would
maintenance
increased, and the complexity of popularity.
still be in operation for many more
and repair
operations increased, the number of Appear TV puts its customers at
years.
strategy for
engineers and the time available to the very heart of its research and
maintain this equipment was development programme, whichThe traditional head-end solutions
their
effectively decreasing. A head-end includes a great deal of customerwere not designed for such
flexibility, and the opportunity to operations, that was manageable, easy to feedback before starting the design
develop and introduce a new
customer
deploy and maintain was pre- process, and a large amount of time
platform. A single platform was
base and
requisite for the new age of MSOs spent thinking through exactly how
needed that was capable of
services
operating services over hybrid our solutions will be deployed.
networks. To address the new requirementsreceiving hundreds of services from
offered.
A recent trend is for technology for MSOs using hybrid broadcastmultiple sources, could effectively
companies operating in the networks to reach subscribers, wemanage the services through
broadcast space to produce a suite developed an entirely new head-endremoval and addition of content
of products based on a core solution built upon a modularprotection systems, and rebroadcast
architecture. These companies architecture - the SC2000. the services over multiple networks
S22 l ibe l OFFICIAL GUIDE TO IPTV@IBC2009 september/october 2009 l www.ibeweb.com
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80