Transmitters Better Than Transmitter, & So Says SES ASTRA & Newtec

Making content easier for terrestrial and mobile TV network distribution is the key element of the cooperative agreement just signed ‘tween SES ASTRA (yes, the satellite operator) and Newtec (satellite communication technologies). The two firms plan to test and demo a managed satellite distribution system that will deliver several mobile TV channels from Betzdorf, Luxembourg, to a number of remote and unmanned terrestrial transmission sites… but the way in which this will be accomplished will find the delivery to be fully compatible with Single Frequency Networks (SFN).



SFN is a broadcast network comprised of several transmitters all operating at the same frequency. Traditional broadcasting usually refers to one high power facility enveloping a wide geographic area. With the advent of DTV, broadcasters are becoming more and more interested in multiple transmitters. To avoid coverage overlap from two or more transmitters, as the SFN transmitters are fed from a common point, the timing at each location can be adjusted to ensure such does not occur.



In this test, the system will operate on the Astra2Connect platform. This is the Satellite Broadband Access system operated by SES ASTRA and based on Newtec’s Sat3Play product. Each remote site will be equipped with an interactive Sat3Play terminal for the remote management and control of the transmission sites’ equipment. The first tests are scheduled for this fall—Sint-Niklaas, Belgium