Finland’s Digita selects Nevion for DVB terrestrial network distribution

Finnish network terrestrial operator Digita (www.digita.fi) has selected Nevion equipment and software to provide a transport of signals from its headend to its transmission sites. Digita also develops and supplies internet TV and radio services along with services based on company’s comprehensive network infrastructure.

Digita is embarking on a project to renew its DVB distribution, moving from transporting signals over SDH, microwave and IP. The project, designed to achieve cost efficiencies and easy regionalisation, required a solution to ensure the reliable transport of signals over IP.

Nevion’s solution consists of Nevion Virtuoso CP4400 DTT processors deployed at the headend and at the 40 transmission sites. The processors are all managed by Nevion’s VideoIPath management software – which Digita already uses to orchestrate its contribution network.

At the headend, the Nevion Virtuoso CP4400s take the multiplexed transmission for 22 regions and provide the T2-MI and IP adaptation, as well as multiple protection mechanisms, including FEC (forward error correction) for packet loss recovery, SIPS (streaming intelligent packet switching) for dual path transmission and LDO (launch delay offset) for dual stream on single path. Some Nevion Virtuoso CP4400 processors also provide the seamless switching between the redundant SFN streams.

At each transmission site, the Nevion Virtuoso CP4400s processors receive the protected streams and perform an IP to ASI conversion, ready for transmission and enabling re-use of the first-generation transmitters. In addition to the dual streams received over the IP network, the processors also receive an RF signal from nearby transmission sites. This provides a further level of protection in case the IP link fails completely: the Nevion Virtuoso CP4400s can switch automatically to the RF signal for re-transmission on the site.

The whole infrastructure is fully redundant to ensure maximum reliability, and managed and monitored centrally through Nevion’s VideoIPath management software. In particular, VideoIPath enables Digita to roll out software updates remotely to the Nevion Virtuoso CP4400s in a planned and organised way, without ever interrupting the transmission.

“Our renewal project needs to bring efficiencies fast, and the Nevion solution meets the criteria”, says Markus Ala-Hautala, Chief Operating Officer at Digita.

“For example, thanks to the density and functionality of the Nevion Virtuoso CP4400, we were able to achieve our objectives at the headend less the equipment normally needed. In terms of timing, we are looking for a project completion about faster than is typical for a DTT project, but Nevion has an excellent track record of rapid delivery.”

“We are very pleased to be part of this great renewal project,” explains Johnny Dolvik, chief product and development officer at Nevion.

“We are particularly excited because the CP4400 is an application of the Nevion Virtuoso platform, our revolutionary software-driven media node platform, designed for the real-time adaptation, transport and processing of live media content in virtually any part of a broadcaster’s network. Digita’s selection of this equipment, combined with VideoIPath is a real endorsement of Nevion’s approach to the future of broadcasting.”