CommunicAsia diary, Singapore, June 2014 --A revisit 12 years later, to a block-buster event

IV: HD going, UHD coming Intelsat to spread 4K UHD 60 fps broadcasts

One of the events I could not attend at CommunicAsia 2014 was:

Intelsat, BT, Ericsson, Newtec and Sony cordially invite you to a 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) discussion and transmission of a live event via satellite at CommunicAsia 2014.  

Date:         Tuesday, 17 June 2014
Time:        4:00 - 5:30 pm
Venue:      Marina Bay Sands, Expo and Conference Centre
                 Intelsat Booth, Level I S3-01’

Ken Takagi, Director, Managed Services Media, Intelsat, was one of the persons scheduled to speak on the occasion. But I came across the following statement from that highlights the future of video transmission, which partly made-up for the loss.

Over to Mr. Peter Ostapiuk, Vice-President, Media Product Management, Intelsat

“We, at Intelsat, are excited about the opportunities 4K Ultra HD (UHD) offers for the satellite and broadcast industries. As these transmissions will require a large amount of data, this will drive up the amount of band-width needed, and satellite will play an important role in the delivery of UHD signals. In April, we conducted another live true-4K UHD, end-to-end video transmission over satellite. Working with Sony, British Telecom (BT), Ericsson and Newtec, we demonstrated that satellite transponders in orbit today are ready to work with the ecosystem in place to deliver these signals. As part of our testing, we determined that a multiplex 4K feed and a down-converted HD feed could be transmitted over a 36MHz transponder utilising DVBS2X technology. This will provide programmers with a commercial, off-the-shelf solution, where they will be able to offer 4K content in a much more efficient manner, while maintaining content quality for an immersive viewing experience. While 4K can be delivered using traditional capacity already in orbit, our Intelsat EpicNG platform will provide the additional throughput and performance needed to meet growing demand, and the design of the platform will enable broadcasters to provide a wider array of services to their customers. The combination of wide beams, spot beams and our IntelsatOne terrestrial network will expand the available options for broadcasters looking to capitalise on 4K content. As new technologies come to market, early adopters and initial mass markets tend to come from Asia. We believe that Asia will once again lead the way and be one of the first regions to adopt UHD. The technology has been very well received by end-users, with Chinese consumers leading the world in the purchases of UHDTVs, according to research by NPD DisplaySearch. The broadcast industry is also very enthusiastic. Some Asian broadcasters have announced that they will commence test transmissions of 4K UHD in the next few months, including matches from this year’s World Cup in Brazil.

However, even though broadcasters and manufacturers are turning their attention to UHD, there are still some pieces missing on the commercial side, including creation of content. We believe that high-quality, compelling content is crucial for a successful adoption of the technology and this is why we do not expect a visible uptake before 2016, when a few linear channels should appear globally. We have to be patient in order to have all the pieces of the technology as well as the developing business cases to ensure that this is not just a technological adventure. Intelsat expects Asia to be one of the first regions in the world to adopt 4K, including the transmission of 4K content over satellite.”

Peter Ostapiuk is responsible for the management and development of Intelsat’s media products portfolio. He manages a global team of marketing and product management professionals that is responsible for media satellite neighbourhoods and managed IntelsatOne video services that include fibre, teleport and MCPC products. Mr. Ostapiuk also oversees Intelsat’s Occasional Use business and development of Intelsat EpicNG media applications.    Prior to his current position, Mr. Ostapiuk served as Regional Vice President of Sales, where he managed Intelsat’s efforts for its North America media products and services. Mr. Ostapiuk has 20 years of experience as a sales professional, including 17 years in the telecommunications and satellite industries. Prior to joining Intelsat in October 2008, he held a range of international and domestic sales management roles with Cisco, Scientific-Atlanta and EchoStar International. Peter Ostapiuk came to the U.S. in the late 1980s for his education, and after earning a bachelor’s in political science and Russian studies from the University of Colorado, he pursued a master of international management at the University of Denver.

Intelsat

Intelsat was established in 1964 as the first commercial satellite services provider. In 1965, Intelsat established the first commercial global satellite communications system. NASA put a man on the moon–and the world watched it happen via Intelsat. In 2001, Intelsat was privatised and in 2006, it acquired PanAmSat. The company supports more than 30 DTH platforms worldwide. It operates 28 satellites that are part of video neighbourhoods around the world and is the number one provider of transponders for video programming worldwide. Intelsat provides communications services to 99 percent of the world’s populated regions. It has approximately 1,500 customers around the world, including the world’s largest Internet service providers, telecommunications companies, broadcasters and corporate network service providers. Intelsat has offices in Brazil, China (Hong Kong), France, Germany, Singapore, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and India. In India, Intelsat India Private Limited’s registered office is in Mumbai, and its Board of Directors includes Gaurav Raghuvir Kharod, who was appointed in November 2012.                                                                                                                                                  (continued)