ABU members demonstrate new UHDTV standard
ABU members Newtec and MEASAT are making history with the world’s first satellite transmission of 4K Ultra High Definition TV using the new DVB-S2X standard.
The new combination will be unveiled at the CommunicAsia show at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center in Singapore from 17-20 June 2014.
The partners say the extensions to the DVB-S2 standard to DVB-S2X will help the satellite industry keep pace with demand for new features and increased efficiency. They say DVB-S2X reaches efficiency gains over DVB-S2 of up to 51 per cent for professional applications and up to 20 per cent for Direct-to-Home TV and is much needed as the growing consumption of video and data continues to squeeze bandwidth.
The demonstration will be displayed at MEASAT’s booth at CommunicAsia with a feed uplinked via MEASAT’s teleport in Cyberjaya, Kuala Lumpur, and delivered live via MEASAT-3 satellite in C-Band, using Newtec’s new DVB-S2X modulation equipment.
MEASAT Sales and Marketing Senior Vice President Raj Malik says the demonstration is the next step in showing their ability to deliver 4K UHDTV over satellite.
“This year we continue our efforts to pioneer the early adoption of cutting edge technologies with a live demonstration of UHDTV over satellite using the new DVB-S2X standard,” he says. “With DVB-S2X, MEASAT can support our broadcast customers with a more efficient and cost-effective use of our satellite capacity.”
The partners say the new features include lower Roll-Offs (RO), increased granularity in MODCOD choices, higher efficient modulation optimized for use in linear and non-linear operations and a standard mechanism to bond carriers together, creating one big transmission pipe for multiple 4K programs over existing transponders.
Newtec VP for Product and Market Management, Steven Soenens, says: “This demonstrates not only that satellite networks are ready for 4K UHDTV but also that DVB-S2X is ready to help satellite operators and broadcasters cut costs or deliver more content within the same capacity.
“It is no longer a question of whether the new DVB-S2X standard will be used in broadcast contribution and distribution networks, but rather a question of when.”
Newtec’s M6100 Broadcast Satellite Modulators and demodulators will be used for the demonstration, with video processing at both ends of the link provided by Ericsson through its AVP 2000 Contribution Encoders and RX8200 Advanced Modular Receivers.
Newtec VP Asia Mario Querner adds: “We are excited to be working with our Asian partner MEASAT on this world first which demonstrates a bright future for satellite contribution worldwide,”
Steven Soenens will also speak about the new standard at a presentation, titled “Satcom Industry in Transition! DVB-S2X Released and in Action. How to Migrate?” on Wednesday, June 18 at BroadcastAsia.