The Channel | 2003 | September

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Eutelsat’s Regional Director for Scandinavia andAsia, Jan
Grondrup-Vivanco comments that, “Back in 1995 or so,
we [the global satellite industry] were only looking at
around 1,000 satellite TV channels worldwide. Today we
[the satellite
operators] provide
delivery platforms
for over 10,000
channels globally.
Digitisation has
made getting on air
down significantly
more cost-effective
and opened up
important new
markets in niche
areas, such as
ethnic and local
broadcasters as
well as educational
es t abl i shment s .
Eutelsat has always kept apace with development and
strives to utilize digital techniques as fully as possible for
the future. You can see this with the introduction of
Eutelsat’s OpenSky service, which moves us towards the
MPEG4 delivery mechanism.Also, with Eutelsat’s Skyplex
operating in the Ka-Band, smaller broadcasters are able to
enjoy the benefits of onboard satellite multiplexing which
allow transmission from their own facilities directly to the
satellite. This drives down delivery costs further. We have
always been flexible in our approach to increasing channel
needs and we have a firm fix on future developments”
The most recently launched satellites are often very high-
powered and better prepared for the latest modulation
techniques – such as 8PSK and 16QAM.
“New Skies has built a reputation for the delivery of high
quality digital platform services which cover roughly 80%
of the world’s population. Linearizers in the transponders
of our new satellites allow for higher order digital
modulation and more efficient use of the frequency
spectrum. This in turn allows for more cost-effective video
contribution and distribution. In addition to optimizing our
satellite transponder designs for digital transmissions, we
focus equally on ensuring our own teleports, as well as the
facilities of our partner teleports, are engineered for high
quality digital transmissions.” said Chris Schram, VP,
Network Engineering and Operations.
But, as before, when the industry was poised on the cusp of
analogue to digital migration, I believe it is once again poised
between digitalisation and “super-digitalisation”. The scenario
is about to be repeated. And I suspect that as the last
changeover has occurred in rather less than a decade, the new
changeover may happen in even a shorter time-frame.
As MPEG2 and QPSK modulation have served the industry
well, improving delivery techniques (compression and
modulation), markets and content, the industry is set once
again to face and exponential gearshift. Consider this;MPEG4
compression with QPSK modulation can – today - deliver a
suitable video (or data) channel at 400kbps. This increases
the transponder channel yield from 12 channels per
transponder to around 110! MPEG4 with 8PSK modulation
could yield around 170 channels at the same data rate.Already
with us, are satellite networks utilizing 16QAMmodulation,
achieved by using the latest high-powered, linearized
transponders. This really put the proverbial cat amongst the
pigeons. Each transponder now has the potential of carrying
upwards of 300 video/data channels. These are not future
technologies - they are here and now!
Once again, we will (must) see the entry barrier price levels
being significantly reduced, allowing even smaller niche
markets to become connected! The potential for religious,
ethnic, political, sporting information, educational,
regional, local and perhaps even “individual” channels may
well be the prospects on the horizon. Perhaps the platform
for a real family channel is not too far off in the future –
sounds a bit off the wall I know, but many of us already sit
in our houses watching people sitting in theirs for weeks
on end. OK, I accept that that is perhaps a niche too far,
but the technology is already available to take our beloved
industry to its next natural phase. What we really need is
the imagination in content provision which goes beyond
the repeats of “I love Lucy” and really brings out the
possibilities for a real global village. We should perhaps
think in terms of expanding our connectivity rather than
just our broadcast ability. As a result, technology means
that TV equals Data and broadcast will soon equal duplex.
It remains to be seen how quickly regulation can keep up –
again!
The potential really is exponential – and in a very short
timeframe.
Anver Anderson is the
AIB’s Business
Development Director.
Anderson also runs a full
service solutions agency
for the satellite and
broadcast industry.
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