Quality assurance for DVB satellite television transmissions during the London 2012 Olympic Games reached historic levels enabled by collaboration of the international broadcast and satellite industries, which jointly launched the first in a series of carrier-ID implementations.
The break-through initiative, which benefited billions of broadcast viewers, was supported by major broadcasters, satellite operators, encoder and modulator manufacturers and uplink service providers, and proved that it is possible to increase satellite TV quality assurance during major international events. The effort is also supported by four industry associations: the RF Interference – End Users Initiative (RFI-EUI), the World Broadcasting Union-International Satellite Operations Group (WBU-ISOG), the GVF (Global VSAT Forum) and the sIRG (satellite Interference Reduction Group).
“Having evaluated more than 2,000 hours of satellite coverage, we are pleased to report that the carrier ID system was a resounding success,” the associations reported. George Melton, Chairman of the RFI-EUI Carrier ID Working Group and Turner Broadcasting Director of Teleport Engineering; Martin Coleman Executive Director of the satellite Interference Reduction Group; David Hartshorn Secretary General of the Global VSAT Forum; and Dick Tauber, Chairman of WBU-ISOG and VP Transmission Systems and New Technology for the CNN News Group, all agreed that: “Now, our industries are making plans to apply this innovative approach to major events in other world regions, with the ultimate objective of having a carrier-ID capability in all satellite broadcasts.”
Carrier ID is an unobtrusive stamp on uplink signals that enables satellite operators to more efficiently identify transmissions to their satellites and thereby accelerate coordination with earth station operators in the event of signal interference.
Satellite operators, led by Eutelsat, Intelsat and SES whose combined orbital assets represent almost 60 percent of global commercial satellite capacity, adapted their Earth station information tables to include Carrier ID information so they can read, extract and interpret data.
Modulator and encoder manufacturers, accounting for the vast majority of satellite transmission equipment used by broadcasters and service providers, have developed new models and system upgrades for Carrier ID use. They include Adtec Digital, Comtech EF Data, Ericsson, Fujitsu, IDC, Newtec and Vislink. Leading broadcasters, agencies and service providers have also updated their systems to be Carrier ID ready.
