Swiss Broadcasting Corporation Opts for SKYWAN Technology from Astrium

Friedrichshafen, April 24, 2012 – The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) has selected Astrium Services' ND SatCom product range to upgrade its fleet of Satellite News Gathering vehicles (SNGs) used for the Swiss national media coverage. The 5 SNGs will start running in the summer of 2012 and will be equipped with state-of-the-art remote functionality and editing capabilities so that reports and news material can be made ready for transmission on the spot. IP connectivity to the broadcasting studio is established using Astrium’s SKYWAN technology, meeting the demand for quick and efficient delivery of media reports.

The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation is a public organisation with headquarters in Bern. It is the largest enterprise for electronic media in Switzerland and is made up of several regional media entities. Due to the topography of the country and the fact that 4 different languages are spoken, timely and comprehensive national media coverage can sometimes be a challenge. The SKYWAN platform ensures stable IP connectivity between SNG vehicles in all corners of the country and the hub station in Bern.

All SNGs will be equipped with the SKYWAN IDU 1070 Satellite Router as well as the SKYRAY Compact 1500 antenna system. The SKYRAY antenna pointing is Eutelsat characterized, and is therefore capable of pointing automatically without line-up procedure. The SKYWAN router enables the creation of mobile SNG star and meshed topology networks. The system also comprises master and backup SKYWAN indoor stations in Zurich and Lugano, providing geographical redundancy and thereby reducing the risk of signal failure.

SKYWAN is a versatile MF-TDMA VSAT solution for high-speed contribution and distribution of video or data content, live or on demand. The solution offers various choices for transmitting video or streaming data in combination with telephony and production intercommunication. The network may consist of multiple sites supporting several transmissions in parallel. Transmissions can be effected ad hoc utilising fully automatic bandwidth allocation or can be scheduled in advance. It is a compact and user friendly system that has a long proven track record with major players in the broadcasting industry.

Through its ND SatCom product range, Astrium Services is a leading global supplier of satellite-based broadband VSAT, broadcast, government and defence communication networks and ground station solutions. Its innovative technologies are deployed in broadcast and media, enterprise and telecom environments, as well as government and defence, worldwide. The ND SatCom team and technologies hold more than 30 years of experience in providing a reliable source of secure, comprehensive and tailored engineered solutions satellite networks and systems.

[427 words]

About Astrium
Astrium is the number one company in Europe for space technologies and the third in the world. In 2011, Astrium had a turnover close to €5 billion and 18,000 employees worldwide, mainly in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Astrium is the sole European company that covers the whole range of civil and defence space systems and services.
Its three business units are: Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure; Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment; Astrium Services for comprehensive fixed and mobile end-to-end solutions covering secure and commercial satcoms and networks, high security and broadcast satellite communications equipment and systems, and bespoke geo-information services, worldwide.
Astrium is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2011, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of € 49.1 billion and employed a workforce of over 133,000.
www.astrium.eads.net

ND SatCom GmbH
p.o. Box
88039 Friedrichshafen
Germany

Press contact:
Cathrin Rautenberg
Public Relations
+497545-9397034
cathrin.rautenberg@ndsatcom.com

This release was published on openPR.