Iraqi broadcaster migrates to IP

Alsumaria, an independent privately-owned Iraqi TV broadcaster, has invested in Newtec’s modulation equipment for a third time to complete its migration to a tapeless workflow. Newtec’s DualFlow and FlexACM technologies have been deployed at the broadcaster’s hub and in its fleet of DSNG vans to support Alsumaria’s IP and ASI operations, provide greater efficiency in bandwidth use and also enable the broadcaster to achieve a return on investment (ROI) within six months.

Alsumaria, which established operations in September 2004, has 500 staff working across Iraq, Kurdistan, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates and Jordan. The broadcaster has a fleet of DSNG vans to provide coverage from locations across the country. In the early years, Alsumaria employed the traditional tape-based workflow in combination with live broadcast over ASI to deliver coverage to the newsroom and onwards to the customer through a digital terrestrial TV (DTT) network.

However, as a new and dynamic player, the Iraqi broadcaster has continuously upgraded its infrastructure and was recently looking to move to a fully file-based IP operation.

To tackle efficiency over satellite, the broadcaster selected the DVB-S2 standard. The next step then was to blend the IP operation together with the broadcaster’s legacy ASI network and take full advantage of the DVB-S2 standard.

The broadcaster was on the lookout for a solution that would provide cost efficiency on both the operational (OPEX) as well as on the capital investment (CAPEX) level, offer increased productivity from DSNG units and faster delivery of news content as well as greater quality of service, extended reach in the footprint, and transparent interoperability with ASI where required.

This was achieved through Newtec’s DVB-S2 based solution, where a gradual migration was undertaken from a DVB-S2 CCM network to a full-blown FlexACM network.

The SOLUTION

Alsumaria wanted to enable full interactive IP communication between the DSNG van and its newsroom while also providing the capability to switch back to the legacy ASI configuration for occasional use of ASI-based broadcasting transmissions. To allow this mode of operation, the broadcaster chose Newtec’s Azimuth DualFlow equipment.

The DualFlow enables broadcasters and DSNG operators to migrate from a traditional ASI video satellite transmission network to an IP infrastructure. Based on the DVB-S2 standard, DualFlow provides cost-effective and scalable implementation of IP operation while maintaining full compatibility with ASI legacy equipment.

The solution identifies different stages in the migration effort towards IP over satellite: from ASI and IP hardware connectivity in the same modulation equipment to simultaneous transport of live broadcast and IP data, and finally two-way IP full interactivity over satellite. These stages can be taken progressively or all at once depending on the legacy and the objectives of the migration.

With the installation, Alsumaria’s DSNGs can now be considered as independent remote offices and deploy the satellite connection in three modes: firstly for live transmission of MPEG-4 over IP; secondly for file transfers and downloads to and from the production centre plus other web-based services (email, internet access, VoIP); and finally, for occasional access to legacy ASI transmissions.

Alsumaria staff can now easily achieve file transfers and downloads between the DSNG units and the production centre, increasing speed of response to unfolding events.

The second technology embedded in the Alsumaria solution is Newtec’s DVB-S2 FlexACM. FlexACM was Alsumaria’s answer to efficiency improvement, quality of service (QoS) and general availability requirements in IP (broadcasting) networks over satellite. The IP share in Alsumaria’s DSNG fleet is mainly reserved for live broadcasts over IP next to interactive IP services (web browsing, email, file transfers, VoIP) to boost the productivity of the remote team.

FlexACM targets the bandwidth efficiency to maximise the return-on-investment. In only 4Mhz, Alsumaria can achieve five occasional use slots with a common forward of 400kHz 16APSK ¾ and five concurrent slots of 970kbps for two-way IP operation to five DSNGs, or a throughput of 1.9 Mbps 16APSK 5/6 per channel using MPEG-4oIP video rate.

Besides major savings in bandwidth, FlexACM improves the QoS. The modems with FlexACM functionality facilitate high-speed file transfer between the DSNG and the studio/playout/editing site. The manufacturer’s PEP-Box Terminals (Performance Enhancing Proxy) were added to give DSNG staff accelerated file transfers at 1.9Mbps through superior data compression and TCP acceleration, to provide a high-quality broadband experience.

Finally, FlexACM protects the satellite throughput against adverse conditions (rain fade and other sources of interference) and offers 100% availability. In case of rain fade or other interference disturbance, the receiving site instantaneously reports the degradation of the conditions to the uplink. At the hub, the FlexACM system immediately modifies the parameters of all following frames, ensuring that no data is lost. In other words, even in the worst weather conditions, the IP broadcast or IP data transfers are assured giving Alsumaria the competitive edge to bring the hottest news at all times and in all conditions.

Newly equipped with DualFlow and FlexACM Newtec modulation units, together with IP appliances for Performance Enhancement, Alsumaria TV DSNG vans deliver today MPEG-4 live streaming and are fully adapted to store and forward video files over satellite.

The solution provides comprehensive control of the quality of service and higher dedicated throughput than traditional VSAT (shared MF-TDMA) systems, together with lower delay, higher availability and better throughput resulting in an ROI of less than six months.

Jad Atallah, chief technology officer at Alsumaria says the broadcaster “now gains exceptional functionality and value from our DSNG fleet and our satellite bandwidth.”

“We now have a state-of-the-art operation that gives us an unparalleled ability to respond to events, cover breaking news more effectively, and deliver higher quality content to a wider range of viewers than ever before.”