Cypriot national broadcaster signs EMR for multimillion euro network upgrade to faciliate digital terrestrial service
Leading communications provider, EMR Integrated Solutions today announced a multi-million euro contract with the Cypriot national broadcaster, Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation. The deal, signed in partnership with JD Dynamics and Netinsight will see the consortium design and build a replacement microwave and multiplex network, to enable CyBC’s distribution network to be DTT (digital terrestrial television) compliant.
The DTT network scheduled to launch by the end of 2010 will be the transport network for all DTT services, including radio, across Cyprus. It also will supply High Definition contribution services in a JPEG 2000 format from regional studios back to the main site in Nicosia. The transport network covers 11 main transmitter sites and four reporter sites. EMR utilizing NEC Pasolink portfolio of microwave radios and Netinsight utilizing the Nimbra range of multiplexers are used extensively throughout the network
Commenting on the deal, Grigoris Maliotis, director of technology and CyBC said:
“After an extensive evaluation process, we have selected the EMR/JD/Netinsight partnership as the top choice for delivering the national DTT network,” says Mr Grigoris Maliotis, Director of Technology at CyBC. “The partners’ proven success in media transport made them an ideal choice to help build the next generation platform for our transport and video network.”
The Nimbra 680 will be the core node, located in Nicosia, offering the ultimate in distribution and contribution flexibility when paired with switches from the Nimbra 300 series at the transmitter and studio site nodes.
The Microwave design is a resilient ring with some spur links to link the regional sites. The NEC Pasolink links operate at STM-1 and provide the necessary bandwidth for the multiplex network.
This form of distributed network architecture utilizing high speed microwave links to provide the bearer is fast becoming the de facto standard for new DTT network designs.
The new network will guarantee 100 percent QoS in distributing video services across Cyprus, provide scalable multicast capabilities and a single distribution and contribution switched network.
CYBC will manage the entire radio network through the EMR installed PNMSj management platform, which offers additional security and provides easy provisioning.
The CYPRUS BROADCASTING CORPORATION (CyBC) is the public broadcaster of the Republic of Cyprus. CyBC is a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which is based in Geneva. It is also a member of the Commonwealth Broadcasters Association (CBΑ), the Permanent Conference of Mediterranean Audiovisual Operators (COPEAM) and the European Association of Regional Television (CIRCOM). It is also a founding shareholder of EuroNews.
