Broadcasters urged to fight satellite interference

Monday 24 Oct 2011
Broadcasters need to be more closely involved in the fight against satellite interference, an international meeting in Zagreb heard today.

CNN Vice President Dick Tauber told the World Broadcasting Unions International Satellite Operations Group (WBU-ISOG) that while interference could never be eliminated entirely, it was essential for the views of broadcasters to be heard.

“The goal is to try to institute something that can become a global solution,” said Mr Tauber, who is also Chairman of WBU-ISOG.

The meeting heard that interference to satellite signals was increasing. Most of it was unintentional and could be countered through training, certification and placing carrier identification devices in uplink equipment.

Adam Edwards, representing the Global VSAT Forum, a non-profit association of companies involved in delivering fixed satellite systems, said the forum had trained more than 4,200 people around the world as part of a campaign to reduce the risk of interference.

The Executive Director of the Satellite Interference Reduction Group, Martin Coleman, said one important aim was to see that all equipment used for video transmissions at the 2010 Olympics in London had carrier identification devices.

These would help to identify quickly the source of a transmission that was causing interference to others’ signals.

WBU-ISOG brings together broadcasters, satellite operators and other broadcasting service providers to discuss issues of common interest.