State-owned broadcasting entity Sentech, in collaboration with Enensys, says it has made a "major breakthrough" in signal distribution in direct-to-home satellite (DTH-S) and digital terrestrial television (DTT), with the launch of OneBeam transmission solution.
Enensys designs and manufactures digital TV transmission technologies, while Sentech provides signal distribution services for most of SA's broadcasters as well as the infrastructure behind its DTT deployment and "gap filler" DTH-S platform.
The first phase of the project, says Sentech, has seen a utilisation of its digital video broadcasting - second generation terrestrial (DVB-T2) and OneBeam solution to the DVB-T2 digital terrestrial TV network and the DTH service.
"The OneBeam solution - which comprises multiple technologies - allows Sentech to use the same satellite capacity to feed the service's DTH subscribers and DTT transmission sites," says the signal provider.
"While the DTT network reaches just over 80% of the population, Sentech's DTH-S platform as a DTT gap filler and a commercial broadcast transmission platform service reaches the South African population beyond the DTT footprint to receive the same service, delivered via satellite.
"Traditionally this would have required one set of satellite capacity and technology to get services to regional DTT transmitters and separate satellite capacity using different protocols for those receiving it via DTH."
Sentech says OneBeam works in single frequency DTT networks and overcomes the complex technical challenges in using the same service for DTT and DTH. "The cost saving is huge. But this isn't just about SA, as this model is equally applicable across Sub-Saharan Africa."
Sentech CEO Setumo Mohapi says the OneBeam solution is very flexible in terms of regionalisation. "For example, if a country wants to have a local head-end with local content insertion, then that's possible. Or they can contribute channels directly into the Johannesburg main facility."
Sentech says this is "just the first phase" of the partnership with Enensys.
Share