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News, Contracts, Multimedia, MENA: Satcom specialist Newtec has now installed its Multimedia Exchange Network over Satellite (MENOS) multimedia concept at the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) facility in Algiers. It is intended to allow video and audio material to be shared over large geographical areas. ASBU's new MENOS networking capability is designed to support all of the transmission applications required by ABSU broadcaster-members.
MENOS is described by Newtec as "a revolutionary networking concept that supports all potential transmission applications required by broadcasters in a fully automated way. These include DSNG uplinks to studios, primary distributions from studios to headends, international contribution exchange between studios and support for business television networks. It also offers IP-based services such as VoIP and corporate VPN's, as well as an integrated billing and content archiving capability."
Newtec conducted its transmission tests over Arabsat 4B at the end of last month. Intended client base is ASBU's 25 broadcast members, from the MENOS hub in Algiers, as well as allowing members to take advantage of TV, radio and IP services for their own national exchange requirements.
ASBU Director of Engineering Abdelrahim Suleiman acknowledges the fast pace of the broadcast industry; his organisation is constantly looking at ways to improve technology and services. He says: "In a professional broadcast exchange network, the quality of the service is also paramount and it is very important that we provide optimum services to our members. MENOS is a system where all remote operators have access to an always-on broadband communication channel, therefore reducing the risk of human error. This not only provides members with a more reliable service, but also a greater number of cost efficient services and ground stations."
MENOS will be operated on Arabsat's BADR-4 satellite in KU-band and extended in a next phase to Arabsat -2B in C-band. The Arabsat satellite coverage includes the Arab world, Europe and North Africa. The first MENOS TV and radio SITs (Satellite InteractiveTerminals) have now been shipped to ASBU members and the full MENOS service is expected to go live to the ASBU and its members this June.
ASBU is a non-profit organisation including 28 Arab networks broadcasting either their own programmes or retransmissions of other channels via satellite. Of its member broadcasters, 17 are state-run and 11 are owned and managed by Arab private capital TV channels operated by these networks. ASBU's channels cover a wide range of purposes and events throughout the Arab world.
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Date: 26 - 29 November 2008