The Enduring Value of Direct-to-Home (DTH)

The core of the satellite media world remains Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcasting. While millions of households have shifted to fiber-based streaming, billions of people across the globe especially in rural or developing regions still rely on satellite dishes for their news, education, and entertainment. Satellite broadcasting transforming media and telecom delivery is particularly evident in large, geographically diverse nations like India, Brazil, and many African countries. In these regions, building a terrestrial fiber network to every home is an economic impossibility, making satellite the only viable way to provide high-definition television and data services to the masses.

The efficiency of DTH is its “one-to-many” distribution model. Unlike a streaming service, where each user consumes a separate unicast stream that eats up network bandwidth, a satellite broadcasts a single signal that can be received by an infinite number of users simultaneously. This makes it the most cost-effective way to deliver live events such as the World Cup or the Olympics to a mass audience. As these events move toward even higher resolutions like 8K, the inherent bandwidth advantages of satellite broadcasting transforming media and telecom delivery will only become more pronounced. For a broadcaster, satellite remains the ultimate tool for reaching the widest possible audience with the lowest possible cost per viewer.

Moving Beyond Linear TV: The Hybrid Model

One of the most significant ways in which satellite broadcasting transforming media and telecom delivery is by moving beyond the traditional “linear” model. Modern satellite systems are increasingly hybrid, combining traditional broadcast signals with two-way internet connectivity. This allows for a “best of both worlds” experience where high-bandwidth content like 4K or 8K sports broadcasts are delivered via satellite, while interactive features, social media integration, and on-demand menus are handled by a standard telecom link. This hybridity is a key part of the new media telecom strategy, ensuring that satellite remains relevant in the age of Netflix and YouTube.

This hybrid approach also enables “Push VOD” (Video on Demand), where popular movies and shows are broadcast via satellite during off-peak hours and stored on the user’s local set-top box. To the user, it feels exactly like a streaming service, but the data has been delivered without taxing the local internet connection. This is a game-changer for users in areas with slow or unreliable broadband, providing them with a premium entertainment experience that would otherwise be impossible. Satellite broadcasting transforming media and telecom delivery is thus creating a more equitable media landscape, where your zip code no longer determines the quality of your entertainment.

High-Quality Content Distribution via Ultra-HD (UHD)

As consumers demand higher and higher levels of visual quality, the advantages of satellite broadcasting become even more apparent. While streaming a 4K movie over a terrestrial internet connection can be a challenge, especially during peak hours, satellite has the inherent capacity to broadcast Ultra-HD content to millions of viewers simultaneously without any degradation in quality. Satellite broadcasting transforming media and telecom delivery is thus a vital part of the global rollout of 4K and 8K technology. By providing a dedicated, high-capacity pipe for premium content, satellites ensure that viewers can enjoy the full cinematic experience, regardless of the quality of their local ground-based internet.

Furthermore, satellite technology is uniquely suited for the delivery of High Dynamic Range (HDR) and immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos. These features require a significant amount of data and a highly stable signal, both of which are strengths of the satellite link. For a filmmaker or a sports producer, satellite broadcasting transforming media and telecom delivery is the best way to ensure that their vision is delivered to the audience exactly as intended. As the “home theater” market continues to grow, the role of satellite as the premier distribution platform for high-end content will only be strengthened.

Global Reach and Cultural Impact

The global reach of satellite technology is another area where its impact is profound. A single satellite can cover an entire continent, allowing a broadcaster to reach an audience of hundreds of millions with a single signal. This has been a major force for cultural exchange and global information sharing. Satellite broadcasting transforming media and telecom delivery has allowed international news organizations and educational broadcasters to reach audiences in the most closed-off and remote regions of the world, fostering a more connected and informed global society. This “one-to-many” distribution model is incredibly efficient, making it the most cost-effective way to reach a mass audience.

In the world of education, “tele-education” via satellite is a lifeline for students in remote areas. Schools in isolated villages can receive live lessons from the best teachers in the country, bridging the educational gap between urban and rural populations. This use of satellite broadcasting transforming media and telecom delivery is a powerful tool for social mobility and economic development, proving that technology can be a force for good in the world’s most underserved communities. The cultural and educational impact of satellite is perhaps its most enduring legacy, connecting us all through a shared window to the world.

Integrating Satellite into Content Delivery Networks (CDN)

For many modern media companies, the boundary between “broadcasting” and “streaming” is blurring. Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), which traditionally relied on a vast network of terrestrial servers, are increasingly integrating satellite nodes into their architecture. Satellite broadcasting transforming media and telecom delivery in this way allows for the “pre-positioning” of popular content at the edge of the network. A popular new movie or a viral video can be broadcast via satellite to thousands of edge servers simultaneously, where it is then stored and served to local users.

This reduces the load on the core internet backbone and ensures a smoother, faster experience for the end-user. It also allows for the delivery of rich media content to areas that have no fiber connection, by using the satellite-fed edge server as a local hotspot. This integration of satellite into the broader digital media infrastructure is a major part of the ongoing telecom services evolution, making the global network more resilient and efficient. Satellite broadcasting transforming media and telecom delivery is thus not just about the “dish on the roof” anymore; it is about the invisible backbone that powers the modern internet.

Advancing Broadcasting Systems and Efficiency

The efficiency of satellite broadcasting has also seen massive improvements through the adoption of new standards like DVB-S2X. These advanced broadcasting systems use more sophisticated modulation and coding to pack more data into the same amount of spectrum. This means that a satellite operator can broadcast more channels, higher-quality video, or additional data services within their existing bandwidth allocation. Satellite broadcasting transforming media and telecom delivery is therefore not just about more satellites; it is about using the existing ones more intelligently, lowering the cost per channel and making satellite an even more competitive option.

Modern satellites are also moving toward “software-defined” payloads, where the footprint and capacity of the satellite can be adjusted in real-time. If a major news event happens in a specific region, the satellite operator can dynamically increase the power and bandwidth to that area to support the surge in broadcasting traffic. This level of agility was once impossible in the world of space-tech but is now becoming a reality. The ongoing advancement of broadcasting systems is a key driver of satellite broadcasting transforming media and telecom delivery, ensuring that the platform remains at the cutting edge of technological innovation.

The Role of Satellite in Emergency and Public Service

Beyond entertainment, satellite broadcasting remains a critical part of a nation’s emergency infrastructure. During a major disaster, terrestrial networks are often the first to fail, but a satellite signal remains unaffected. Many governments rely on satellite broadcasting transforming media and telecom delivery for their emergency alert systems, ensuring that they can communicate with their citizens even in the most dire circumstances. This “always-on” capability is a vital part of public safety, providing a reliable channel for life-saving information when it is needed most.

In many countries, satellite is also the primary way that government services are delivered to remote communities. From conducting elections in isolated regions to providing e-governance portals for rural citizens, the reach of satellite broadcasting transforming media and telecom delivery is essential for the functioning of a modern state. This public service aspect of satellite technology is often overlooked, but it is a fundamental part of the global social contract, ensuring that every citizen has access to the essential services of their government, regardless of where they live.

Future Prospects: 8K, VR, and Beyond

As we look to the future, the role of satellite in the media world is set to expand even further. The next generation of media including 8K television, immersive Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) will require levels of bandwidth that will strain even the most advanced terrestrial networks. Satellite broadcasting transforming media and telecom delivery will be the essential foundation for these new experiences, providing the massive data throughput needed to bring these technologies into the mainstream. A VR broadcast of a live sporting event, for example, could require hundreds of Mbps per user, a load that satellite is uniquely positioned to handle.

We are also seeing the emergence of “direct-to-mobile” satellite broadcasting, where signals can be received directly by a smartphone without the need for a dish. While this is still in its early stages, it has the potential to completely disrupt the mobile media market, providing high-quality video to billions of mobile users without using up their data plans. Satellite broadcasting transforming media and telecom delivery is thus heading toward a future of total ubiquity, where high-quality content is available anytime, anywhere, and on any device. The sky is no longer just a way to reach the home; it is the way to reach the individual.

Conclusion: The Horizon of Global Media

The journey of satellite broadcasting is one of constant evolution and reinvention. From the first grainy images of the 1960s to the ultra-high-definition immersive experiences of today, satellite has remained at the heart of how we see and understand our world. The process of satellite broadcasting transforming media and telecom delivery is not just about technology; it is about the power of stories and the importance of connection. By bridging the digital divide and providing a platform for cultural exchange, satellite technology is making our world a smaller, more connected place.

As the lines between broadcasting and telecommunications continue to blur, the unique strengths of satellite global reach, massive capacity, and inherent reliability will only become more valuable. The future of media is high-definition, interactive, and truly global, and satellite is the engine that will drive us there. By continuing to innovate and integrate with the broader digital ecosystem, satellite broadcasting is ensuring its place as the premier platform for global content delivery for generations to come. The era of the fragmented, localized broadcast is over; the era of the unified, satellite-transformed media landscape has begun.

The Architecture of Immersive Streaming and Volumetric Video

The defining characteristic of broadcasting media tech 6G era is the move toward fully immersive content. While 4K and 8K video provide incredible detail, they are still two-dimensional projections. 6G will enable “volumetric video” content that is recorded in three dimensions and can be viewed from any angle. Imagine watching a football match where you can virtually walk onto the field and stand next to the quarterback, or a concert where you can fly through the crowd. This requires a massive leap in data throughput, far beyond the capabilities of 5G. 6G, with its potential for Terabit-per-second speeds, will allow these massive 3D data files to be streamed in real-time to holographic displays or advanced AR/VR headsets, providing a level of realism that is currently only possible in the highest-end film production studios.

AI Content Production and the Automation of Creativity

At the same time that the delivery of content is being revolutionized, the production of content is undergoing its own AI-driven transformation. In the broadcasting media tech 6G era, artificial intelligence will be integrated into every stage of the creative process. AI production tools will be able to handle the labor-intensive tasks of video editing, color grading, and even character animation, allowing creators to focus on the high-level vision. Furthermore, AI can generate “personalized” versions of a broadcast in real-time. For a global sporting event, the AI could automatically generate commentary in dozens of languages, adjust the camera angles based on individual viewer preferences, and even insert targeted advertisements that are seamless parts of the virtual environment. This level of AI content production ensures that media is more relevant, engaging, and accessible than ever before.

Edge Content Delivery and the End of Buffering

To support the massive data requirements of immersive media, the distribution network must be completely redesigned. The traditional model of a few central data centers serving a global audience is no longer viable. Broadcasting media tech 6G era will rely on edge content delivery, where the processing and storage of media are moved to the extreme edge of the network often within the same neighborhood or even the same building as the viewer. By caching content closer to the user and utilizing the “intelligent reflecting surfaces” of 6G architecture, broadcasters can ensure that even the most complex 3D streams are delivered with near-zero latency. This means an end to buffering and a level of responsiveness that allows for true “interactive” broadcasting, where the viewer’s actions can influence the live stream in real-time.

Next Generation Broadcasting and the Rise of Holographic Displays

One of the most anticipated breakthroughs of the 6G era is the perfection of holographic display technology. For decades, holograms have been a staple of science fiction, but the technical requirements for realistic, mid-air 3D images have remained elusive. Broadcasting media tech 6G era provides the missing pieces of the puzzle: the bandwidth to transmit the data and the low latency to synchronize it. In this future, the “screen” as we know it may disappear entirely, replaced by volumetric displays that project 3D images into the center of a room. This will revolutionize everything from news broadcasting where a reporter could appear to be standing in your living room to education, where students can interact with 3D models of historical artifacts or scientific phenomena as if they were physically present.

Digital Media Innovation and the Convergence of Gaming and Media

The 6G era will witness the final convergence of the gaming and broadcasting industries. We are moving toward a world of “persistent virtual environments” where a live broadcast and a multiplayer game are one and the same. For example, a popular science fiction series could be broadcast as a live event within a virtual world, with millions of viewers participating as characters in the story. This level of digital media innovation requires a network that can handle both the high-bandwidth requirements of 8K video and the low-latency requirements of interactive gaming simultaneously. 6G is the only technology capable of providing this “dual-use” connectivity, enabling a new genre of interactive entertainment that is part-movie, part-game, and entirely immersive.

The Role of 6G in Live Events and Remote Production

The logistics of live broadcasting from awards shows to political conventions are notoriously complex and expensive. Broadcasting media tech 6G era will simplify these operations through “remote production.” With the high-speed and ultra-reliable connectivity of 6G, the dozens of cameras and microphones at a stadium can send their raw signals directly back to a central production hub thousands of miles away. This eliminates the need for massive “outside broadcast” (OB) vans and allows a single production team to manage multiple events simultaneously. This efficiency not only reduces costs but also significantly lowers the carbon footprint of the media industry, as there is less need to transport equipment and personnel around the world for every event.

Addressing the Challenges of Privacy and Content Integrity

As media becomes more immersive and AI-driven, the challenges of privacy and content integrity become more urgent. In the broadcasting media tech 6G era, the ability to create “deepfakes” hyper-realistic but entirely fake videos will reach a point where it is almost impossible for the human eye to detect the difference. This makes the verification of content a critical component of next generation broadcasting. Blockchain technology may play a key role here, providing a transparent and immutable record of a video’s origin and any edits that have been made to it. Furthermore, as the network becomes aware of the viewer’s physical environment and emotional state to optimize the immersive experience, protecting the privacy of this personal data must be the highest priority for the media industry.

Building the 6G-Ready Media Organization

The transition to the 6G era will be a period of intense competition and creative disruption. The media organizations that succeed will be those that view themselves as technology companies as much as storytellers. This requires a commitment to investing in 6G media technology and upskilling the workforce to work with AI production tools and 3D design software. The future of media is not just about what we see on a screen, but about the total sensory experience that a broadcaster can provide. By embracing the possibilities of the 6G era, the media industry can create a new world of wonder and information that is more inclusive, more interactive, and more impactful than anything we have seen before.

Key Takeaways:

1. 6G technology will enable a move from 2D video to fully immersive, volumetric content that can be streamed instantly, bridging the final gap between the digital and physical worlds.
2. The integration of AI into every stage of the production process will democratize creativity and allow for a level of personalized content delivery that was previously unimaginable.
3. Edge delivery and holographic displays will redefine the physical experience of media, turning traditional broadcasting into a seamless, interactive sensory journey.

The operator has also gone live with EPG Correction Distillery™ to enhance user experience (UX) on its 50 most popular channels for the entire customer base of 1.6 million households subscribing to blue TV super-aggregated service. The deployment of this market-leading Media Distillery solution supersedes a platform which Swisscom initially developed in-house.

Both award-winning solutions are part of Media Distillery’s Time Marker Suite, which harnesses AI and ML to automatically analyse broadcasts across multiple channels in real-time to identify the beginning and end of programmes, and also of the ad breaks within them. This capability allows operators of video platforms to enhance their catch-up and replay experiences across the entire lineup of content without being dependent on individual broadcaster data.

Ad Break Distillery to power no-ad experience

Ad Break Distillery powers Swisscom’s novel Replay Comfort ad-free product offering which enables viewers to avoid commercials in Replay.

Priced at CHF 6.90, Replay Comfort ad-free was created to appeal to viewers who enjoy Replay TV but would rather see content uninterrupted by ads, and are willing to pay a premium for it.

Philipp Wuethrich, Head of TV and Smart Products Backend Software Development at Swisscom, says: “What we have seen from our early initiatives in providing ad-free experiences is that customers’ Net Promoter Score (NPS) for the ad-free product is significantly higher than for other products. That’s important for us and that’s what binds the customer to our platform. With Media Distillery’s Ad Break Distillery, we can be confident that this much-appreciated seamless ad-free experience can be enjoyed by more customers.”

While some broadcasters include ad markers in their transmissions, most do not, and this is where Media Distillery’s Ad Break Distillery comes in.

With Ad Break Distillery, Swisscom can identify the placement of ads, and enable skipping for the myriad channels which don’t provide ad break markers. So Swisscom can provide a consistent user experience across its Replay TV channel line-up, adding more user value to the Replay Comfort option.

Swisscom has seen significantly higher Net Promoter Scores (NPS) reported from Replay Comfort subscribers, clear testament to the value viewers bestow on the ad-free experience.

Higher NPS and more revenues

Wuethrich shares: “We see that the conversion level, in other words using the markers to skip advertisements, is extremely high for Replay Comfort users; once they take up the package, they rely on it heavily.”

“Thanks to Media Distillery technology we’re creating a proper, fully ad-free experience for our customers, enabling us to bundle a high-quality product which embraces our customers’ best-loved channels,” he said. “We want to ensure that if a customer pays us for an ad-free product that they’re getting that seamless experience, across all their favorite channels. Media Distillery is enabling us to do this.”

Ad Break Distillery automatically detects the start and stop of advertisement breaks in broadcast video, regardless of whether they are mid-programme or interstitial. Unlike other solutions in the market that use fingerprint technology and depend on ads being known in advance, Ad Break Distillery doesn’t require prior knowledge of individual ads, so also works with those previously unseen.

The resulting ad break markers are provided via an API to Swisscom, which processes them such that viewers subscribed to Replay Comfort enjoy ad-free entertainment.

Regulation came into force in Switzerland in October 2022 which brought an end to TV customers’ option to skip adverts on some channels distributed by Swisscom and other operators. The move came as the result of a newly established industry agreement and legal framework for catch-up and replay TV in the country.

EPG Correction for VOD-like User Experiences in Catch-up and Replay

EPG Correction, meanwhile, is giving Swisscom customers harmonious viewing because it ensures that EPG programme schedule information is accurate.

Linear broadcasts don’t always align with the EPG. Without correction, on replay or catch-up, the viewer might experience the end of the programme being cut off, or they might see the end of the preceding show.

Following this Media Distillery deployment, Swisscom subscribers now benefit from accurate EPG information, and can select and enjoy catch-up and replay TV without missing one moment of their desired content.

“We’ve been working with Media Distillery for a while, and recognise its technology to enhance the user experience,” said Wuethrich.

“Customer-centric focus is in our DNA; that’s what drives us,” he added. “What we are now able to do is ensure that whatever product our subscriber is enjoying, whether with ads or ad-free, they’re getting the best possible user experience.”

“We are extremely proud that our technology is enhancing Swisscom’s TV user experience,” said Roland Sars, CEO of Media Distillery. “Swisscom stands at the forefront of innovation in the European industry, and its abiding commitment to delighting customers is widely acknowledged; it’s an honor to be Swisscom’s partner.”

In normal cases, immersive audio is rendered and accompanied with an ADM file, which contains the metadata needed to facilitate immersive playback. However, in the case of live production and transmission, the ADM file cannot be constructed and added as a metadata file, it needs to be serialised in the form of SADM.

Two approaches can be used. The first is to use one of the available audio tracks as a data carrier for the metadata. This however carries disadvantages. For uncompressed transmission, the ST 2110 -41 standard can be used to construct a separate serialised metadata file and transmit it separately to the audio file, allowing for the transmission of live, uncompressed, immersive audio. However, this approach adds complexity; by separating the audio and its metadata into two transmissions it brings added risk in terms of synchronicity upon delivery.

It is exactly this risk which the VB440 is now able to mitigate with its incorporation of ST 2110-41 monitoring and decoding. It allows not only for the identification of sync issues in the moment, but – through its unrivalled understanding of packet behaviour and IP network performance more generally – is able to identify network anomalies which may lead to issues down the line, facilitating much earlier error detection and avoidance. Its intuitive presentation of the audio and metadata being transmitted – both numerically and through an incorporated room meter – give at-a-glance insight into the real-time performance of immersive audio productions. Through this, the VB440 thus enables immersive audio for live production by granting full consistency and reliability to immersive audio productions.

Speaking of the incorporation of the -31 and -41 standards, Chairman of Bridge Technologies Simen Frostad said: “Yet again, with the VB440 we are pushing forward the scope of what can be done in the field of live IP production. Our recent focus on audio advancements has seen us incorporate a range of crucial immersive audio tools, and currently no other monitoring solution on the market incorporates ST 2110-31 or -41 monitoring. The development has been driven by a client’s need to deliver immersive audio for the live broadcast of one of the world’s largest global sporting events, coming up later this year – but its potential use will extend to a whole range of broadcasters and events. We’re excited to showcase its full potential at NAB2024”.

Starting with Hrvatski Telekom in Croatia and Magyar Telekom in Hungary, Deutsche Telekom’s subsidiaries in multiple European countries will offer new ways to integrate Netflix – including bundling or set-up features on their TV interface – giving customers more choice over how to enjoy their favourite content. In the course of this year, all national companies of Deutsche Telekom Group in Europe with an existing TV offering will introduce the benefits of this new partnership to their customers.

Dominique Leroy, Board Member for Europe at Deutsche Telekom AG: “We are excited to work with Netflix to deliver yet another tangible value for our customers in Europe. This partnership shows that we’re listening to what our customers want: easy, enjoyable, and satisfying entertainment that fits perfectly with the premium home experience we provide.”

Emma Lloyd, Vice President, EMEA Partnerships at Netflix said: “This partnership builds on our strong relationship with Deutsche Telekom and is a great collaborative effort in placing people at the heart of the entertainment experience. We are delighted to launch this offering which will provide consumers an incredible variety of entertainment options from award winning films to fan-favourite series, documentaries, and unscripted programs from across Europe and beyond.“

The new PŸUR TV hybrid DVB-C (cable) plus OTT STB, based on Android TV Operator Tier and manufactured by Sagemcom, is delivering an advanced entertainment experience to consumers thanks to 3SS’ multiple award-winning 3Ready product platform.

NAGRA’s OpenTV Video Platform is core to Tele Columbus’ next-gen super-aggregation strategy, and also powers PŸUR TV.

In May 2023, it was announced that Tele Columbus had chosen 3Ready to drive the user experience for its next-generation entertainment offering. The launch of this set-top box kicks off a roadmap of multiscreen devices, including smart TVs and mobile devices, on which consumers will be able to access the service.

“We’re extremely excited to now deliver to our customers a truly world-class super-aggregated video entertainment experience, based on 3SS’ 3Ready platform,” said Markus Oswald, Chief Executive Officer at Tele Columbus.

PŸUR TV subscribers benefit from content-centric discovery enabled by deep-linked content integration with Prime Video, RTL+ and YouTube. Catchup and replay content from German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF are also deep-linked, and can be accessed directly from the PŸUR TV custom launcher. To simplify access to global streaming services Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube, these can be launched via a dedicated button on the remote control. Users can access all their favorite content both live and on demand in an intuitive and highly performant 3Ready-powered experience. Google TV services such as Assistant for voice search and Play Store have been seamlessly integrated to simplify access to the rich array of content, apps and games in the Android TV ecosystem.

The hybrid PŸUR TV service is to complement live TV viewing with advanced features including catchup, startover and timeshift, in full compliance with content owners’ requirements and German legislation.

“We wish to congratulate Tele Columbus on the debut of the PŸUR TV hybrid service,“ said Stefan Blickensdoerfer, 3SS CTO. “It’s a matter of great pride to support Tele Columbus, and to celebrate this milestone alongside our fellow technology provider partners,” he added

Starlink said, “Starlink satellites with Direct to Cell capabilities enable ubiquitous access to texting, calling, and browsing wherever you may be on land, lakes, or coastal waters.”

To be precise, the texting services under the ‘Direct-to-Cell’ service from Starlink will start in 2024. Whereas the voice and data along with IoT connectivity services will start in 2025. The company has said that ‘Direct-to-Cell’ will connect IoT devices with the common LTE standards. Regardless of the location of the consumer, if the sky is visible, any LTE phone will be able to connect and work with the ‘Direct-to-Cell’ service from Starlink.

The company has mentioned that there would be no hardware or firmware changes required for the technology to work. Users won’t even need to download any special app on their phone. It will be a very convenient connectivity service for consumers, especially the ones who are travelling to remote locations where mobile networks are not available.

The company said, “Starlink satellites with Direct to Cell capability have an advanced eNodeB modem onboard that acts like a cellphone tower in space, allowing network integration similar to a standard roaming partner.”

SpaceX will launch the ‘Direct to Cell’ satellites of Starlink using the Falcon 9 rocket and then Starship. Once the satellites reach the orbit, they will directly connect over laser backhaul to the Starlink constellation to provide global connectivity. Starlink has partnered with telecom service providers globally to offer this service to their consumers as well. Companies such as T-Moblie (USA), Optus (Australia), Rogers (Canada), KDDI (Japan), One NZ (New Zealand), and Salt (Switzerland) have partnered with Starlink.

With conventional technologies, a single millimeter-wave chip is used to generate a single beam, resulting in larger RUs and increased power consumption. When the newly developed technology is applied to actual base stations, Fujitsu demonstrated that it is possible to achieve high speed and high capacity communications of 10Gbps or more with a half the size of a conventional RU. This allows for systems with fewer millimeter-wave chips, which ultimately leads to reductions in power consumption per RU by 30%.

Project Background

5G network technologies are expected to achieve higher speeds and capacity by effectively utilizing wireless resources in the millimeter-wave band. While this approach offers the potential to significantly improve communications speed and capacity, millimeter and other high-frequency radio waves tend to be blocked by obstacles, making it difficult to communicate between great distances. One possible approach to resolving this challenge includes covering one area with a larger number of radio base stations, which would help address issues such as the need to miniaturize RUs, energy savings, and cost reductions. To address these challenges, from June 2020 to June 2023, Fujitsu Limited worked to develop technologies that enhance the performance of RU under a project initiated by NEDO, which can be used in information and communications systems that support 5G. Fujitsu’s research resulted in the development of a technology that enables multiple beam multiplexing on a single chip through millimeter-wave beamforming (4), making it possible to deliver four times the speed and larger capacity than a conventional RU of the same size to deliver significant energy and cost reductions.

Future Plans

Kicking off development of base station hardware equipped with this technology from August 2023, Fujitsu aims to begin commercial deployment of RUs using the technology globally in fiscal 2024, and contribute to the spread of millimeter-wave in the global market and decarbonization of the telecommunications industry. Subsequently, the beam multiplexing technology will be applied to base station (CU/DU) products, and will be offered globally in fiscal 2025. In addition to contributing to the reduction of the carbon footprint of telecommunications carriers and other commercial users, Fujitsu will continue to develop technologies to advance the network industry and contribute to the rapid deployment of next-generation communications infrastructure.

Vivaro Media’s distribution signal can be shaped to the specific needs of broadcasters and offers fiber, satellite and SRT. Broadcasters can offer viewers all the racing action via traditional linear television or over-the-top streaming. Broadcasters in Columbia, Italy, and the US have already committed to broadcast video content from the race with more broadcasters coming onboard up until the race kicks off.

“We are excited to be selected as the official broadcast distribution partner for CIC Mont Ventoux. The race offers fans the last chance to see their favourite cycling teams prepare for the Tour De France. It is one of the most interesting and competitive races on the UCI calendar. We’re happy to be part of it and enable more fans see the action from wherever they are in the world,” said Daniel Gonzalez, CEO at Vivaro Media. “Our robust and ultra-reliable global distribution network ensures that fans have uninterrupted access to video content and an optimised viewing experience. We have a proven track record of delivering unique sporting events to fans around the world and supporting broadcasters as they monetize content.”

CIC Mont Ventoux is a single-stage cycle race between Vaison-La-Romaine and Mont Ventoux, France. 18 teams from seven countries will race over 154 kilometers with the race starting on June 13th. The race is part of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Pro Series. The UCI is the world governing body of cycling, recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It was founded on April 14th 1900 in Paris, France.

“Vivaro Media has shown itself to be a trusted partner with world-leading technologies and broadcast relationships across the globe. It is great to have the team on board and enabling more fans to catch the action from Mont Ventoux in Provence,” said Nicolas Garcera, director at CIC Mont Ventoux. “It’s a highly competitive race in a beautiful setting, and we’re excited to share it with the world. Together with Vivaro Media, we’re giving racing fans greater access to one of the sport’s most exciting events.”

Vivaro Media provides more than 2,500 access points to over 75 broadcasters and distribution networks globally. It distributes more than 250 live events per month. Vivaro Media’s innovative video transmission services are used for international major sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup, Pan American Games, the Olympic Games as well as niche sports and leagues around the world. It has more than 20 years of experience delivering turnkey solutions, from on-site production to content transport management and full technical services.

In June 2022, Huawei released the industry’s first ultra-broadband Super C + Super L solution able to provide 12 THz of spectrum (https://www.huawei.com/en/news/2022/6/ngon-award-optical-green) over a fiber using C band (C for Conventional wavelengths) and L band (L for long wavelengths). In this testing, the total bandwidth was extended to 18 THz by using in-house technologies for S band (S for short wavelengths) and relying on the transmission expertise of Huawei’s French R&D Center. A total number of 240 wavelengths were used to provide a total transmission capacity of 157 Tbit/s, based on Huawei’s advanced high-order constellation shaping modulation algorithm.

While traffic demand increases dramatically each year, spectral efficiency, such as the amount of information transmitted for a given spectrum, appears to improve only half as quickly over the same period. This will lead to the saturation of existing backbone networks. This technology provides a solution to leverage the already-deployed optical fiber systems and secure capacity upgrades without investing in new fiber deployment. The testing demonstrates that innovation and research are and will remain the priority for both companies to cope with future traffic demands and deliver affordable connectivity to customers.

Gilles Bourdon, Vice President for Wireline Networks & Infrastructure, Orange Innovation, declared: “Facing the continuous increase of traffic demand, obtaining more spectrum and therefore more value from our existing assets is crucial. It is even more important as spectral efficiency of such optical systems reaches a theoretical limit. The testing proves the capability of our fiber infrastructure to offer 50 % more spectrum and thus effectively address one of our key topics: the experience and connectivity of our customers.”

Richard Jin, President for the Optical Business Product Line, Huawei, declared: “Huawei has long been committed to strategic investments, research and technological breakthroughs in the optical communications domain, as illustrated by the excellence of our optical research teams, such as the one in Paris. We are delighted to collaborate with an operator as innovative as Orange to contribute, together, to the creation of the network of the future.”