❝ In comparison with the coverage and capabilities of today ’ s terrestrial networks , especially in developing Asia , satellite provides a cost-effective and immediate access to all , be it directly with direct-to-home ( DTH ) or indirectly by distributing content to other networks ( cable , DTT , IPTV ).❞
FSS PLUS HTS KEEP SATELLITES PULSATING
Satellite is today ’ s video enabler for all
By Jean-François Fenech
Satellite is a must-have pillar for TV and video everywhere . The advantages of satellite delivery of linear content are well known : Universal coverage , quality , uniformity of the signal , cost and abundance of bandwidth . In comparison with the coverage and capabilities of today ’ s terrestrial networks , especially in developing Asia , satellite provides a cost-effective and immediate access to all , be it directly with direct-to-home ( DTH ) or indirectly by distributing content to other networks ( cable , DTT , IPTV ).
The unique and evolving distribution capabilities of satellite were newly illustrated by the Vatican in December 2015 for the ceremony of the opening of the Holy Door that marked the beginning of the Jubilee Year of Mercy . It was the first worldwide 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD ) broadcast via satellite , transmitted in Asia and Oceania by Eutelsat 172A .
With the revolution of video consumption patterns , where interactivity is a must , fibre-tothe-home ( FTTH ) infrastructure can provide a full Connected TV experience in a standalone way . However , fibre deployment is conditioned by return on investment by terrestrial operators , meaning that users in more rural or semi-rural areas may be left on the sidelines .
The exclusive use of terrestrial broadband networks for interactivity would permanently deprive a significant portion of consumers of video services and would lead to a double digital divide : a digital divide of access to linear digital TV services requiring high bandwidth and a digital divide of access to non-linear TV services in areas with no terrestrial Internet access or access with insufficient quality .
The hybridisation of access networks , that is , the combination of existing “ broadcast ” networks , such as satellite with
“ broadband ” networks ( DSL or 3G / LTE ), is a solution that is readily available and constitutes the indispensable complement to fibre roll-out plans . Hybrid solutions can offer Connected TV services by bundling interactivity ( broadband network ) with linear image quality ( broadcast network ) for consumers .
In this technology mix , satellite brings linear content with the best possible quality . This complementarity is not science fiction : several million subscribers use satellite hybrid solutions , with offers from Freesat in the UK , Sky Italia in Italy , Dish or DirecTV in the US .
The superiority of satellite technology will become even more acute with the development of 4K / UHD that will take bandwidth demands to a new level . Eutelsat has been
❝ In comparison with the coverage and capabilities of today ’ s terrestrial networks , especially in developing Asia , satellite provides a cost-effective and immediate access to all , be it directly with direct-to-home ( DTH ) or indirectly by distributing content to other networks ( cable , DTT , IPTV ).❞
a first mover in this evolution , working with all actors in the broadcasting chain and already able to broadcast the first 4K / UHD channels in Europe , Turkey and Russia , as well as manage complex special event transmissions .
Satellite is also able to offer the non-linear component of access networks where it cannot be offered by other technologies . For example , Eutelsat offers European consumers highquality broadband access using a powerful high throughput satellite called KA-SAT . What this means is that every household in Europe , wherever it is located , can be connected immediately with unmatched performance to 22Mbps downstream and 6Mbps upstream , at a price comparable to ADSL .
This solution is particularly
Eutelsat strongly believes that leveraging the multiple features of satellites to offer the best of both broadcast and broadband worlds will efficiently and instantly generalise the reach of Connected TV .
— Jean-François Fenech , CEO , Eutelsat Asia
suitable for unserved and underserved areas . Combined with the quality of satellite TV reception , this is a 100 % highperformance satellite solution for connected TV everywhere in Europe , including the many white and grey areas of Internet access . New solutions for satellite broadband access in the Ka-band are even more competitive and will lead to significant further reductions in bandwidth costs . With the rationale of reducing network congestion or distribution costs , satellite can also provide a total or partial push mode alternative to over-the-top ( OTT ) catch-up TV services and video-on-demand ( VoD ). With the significant reduction in local storage costs , some operators of satellite TV packages and video platforms have already selected to offer subscribers a catch-up or VoD service using DVR storage .
Eutelsat strongly believes that leveraging the multiple features of satellites to offer the best of both broadcast and broadband worlds will efficiently and instantly generalise the reach of Connected TV . In fast-growing markets like Asia-Pacific , Eutelsat actively helps and fuels the growth of TV platforms and channels , telcos and OTT players by increasing the immediate reach of their services , thereby improving customer experience and reducing content distribution costs . All this comes together to make the Connected TV experience a reality for all .
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