SAT>IP – Technology

SAT>IP is built upon industry standard satellite and IP technologies to ensure flexibility and reliability.

Simple, elegant and powerful technology

SAT>IP is an Internet Protocol (IP) based architecture for receiving and distributing satellite signals.

Once converted to IP, satellite TV can be distributed, like traditional IPTV, over any IP network. This can include wireless (WIFI, 4G, 5G), powerline, wired ethernet, optical fibre, plastic fibre, coax, twisted pair (xDSL) or visible light technologies.

In a SAT>IP environment, any IP device automatically gets enabled for satellite reception with the addition of a software client. Tablets, PCs, Laptops, Smartphones, Connected TVs, Game Consoles, Media Players and IP Set-Top-Boxes can all become satellite TV viewing clients.

Live satellite TV content is transmitted over any IP networks, in its highest quality, untouched, transparently and without the need for transcoding. This method is both simply to implement and increases reliability with quality up to 4K.

SAT>IP flexibility and adherence to standards also extends to installation and interoperability. For example, multiple SAT>IP servers and clients can operate on the same network with both free-to-air and encrypted pay-TV transmissions. In addition, SAT>IP can be integrated within broader “hybrid” services using HbbTV, DNLA and HTTP to mix and match live with on-demand content via the internet.

In traditional satellite reception systems, a DVB-S/S2 RF (Radio Frequency) signal is decoded and distributed via dedicated analogue coaxial cables. With SAT>IP, satellite-delivered RF signals are converted to IP right at the point of reception in a SAT>IP server, or within the satellite antenna itself to create an IP transport layer.

Benefits

Future proof satellite TV for the Internet generation

SAT>IP is designed to offer future-proof delivery of multi-screen TV with minimal service disruption and costs by utilising the growing IP based infrastructure within residential and commercial properties.

This is valuable for both homes and multi-unit dwellings where a single antenna and IP network can provide TV access for an entire block, individual units and personal devices within a household using both wired and wireless connections. This flexibility is enabled without the need for more costly and time-consuming cabling, multi-switchers or additional Set-Top-Boxes.

For satellite TV service providers, SAT>IP offers efficient distribution of high-quality live content that can seamlessly blend with on-demand internet services to create a fully connected experience. SAT>IP combines the reliability and bandwidth efficiency of satellite delivery with the flexibility and interactivity of internet access to serve a wider range of viewing devices.

Finally, for equipment manufactures and system integrators; SAT>IP offers a license free and industry supported solution to deliver a feature rich and future proof satellite TV service that meets the expectations of modern consumers.

SAT>IP requires less cabling, dedicated switching, head-ends and ancillary equipment to create a reliable and scalable solution that can span most commercial and residential opportunities. Through adherence to an agreed and stable industry standard, each part of the technology ecosystem provides guaranteed interoperability with a seamless evolutionary path via Over-The-Air upgrades.

Use Cases

RESIDENTIAL

REMOTE FACILITIES

SYSTEM INTEGRATORS

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Technical

Technology

In SAT>IP environments, RF tuners and demodulators are removed from end-clients and become a common resource of the IP network where they act as servers for live satellite programs.

Sat IP Technology Network

SAT>IP clients talk to SAT>IP servers using the SAT>IP protocol.

Many SAT>IP servers and clients can coexist on the same network.

Protocol

SAT>IP is a remote tuner protocol based as far as possible on existing internet protocols: IP, UPnP, RTSP, HTTP. These protocols have been complemented with satellite specific extensions only where necessary.

SAT>IP was designed in such a way as to be easily integrated into DLNA compliant environments and devices.

The SAT>IP protocol is logically split in a Media Plane and a Control Plane.

Sat IP Technology Protocol

Media Plane

Control Plane

SAT>IP servers identify themselves on the IP network using standard UPnP mechanisms (SSDP).

Stream Control in SAT>IP is done via RTSP or HTTP. SAT>IP clients request access to satellites, transponders and MPEG PID streams as needed.

RTSP queries are used for requesting RTP unicast or multicast streams. HTTP queries are used for requesting HTTP streams.

Two example SAT>IP queries:

Sat IP Technology Control Plane

The PID filter functionality of SAT>IP makes sure that only those packets being actually needed are carried over the IP network.

SAT>IP servers also provide real-time reception information to clients about signal statistics via RTCP.

Application Scenarios

The intention with SAT>IP is to enable all of todays receivers and all of todays programs and features associated with satellite reception to be ported one-to-one into an IP environment.

SAT>IP is designed to be usable in both FTA (Free-To-Air) and CA (Conditional Access) environments for both horizontal and vertical operator deployments.

SAT>IP can work in single-home environments as well as in larger multi-dwelling unit (MDU) scenarios.

Many network clients and existing Set-Top-Boxes today can be upgraded to SAT>IP reception simply through a software upgrade.