Satellite and connected TV

Connected TV and associated HBB hybrid services are under development. The change will probably be slow, but with depth and impact on relevant sectors such as satellite. Inés Sanz, Director of Customer Engineering at Hispasat, reflects on this new scenario.

We are witnessing with great interest an important transformation in our consumption habits of audiovisual content as a result of technological advances in consumer electronics. The classic way of using the TV exclusively to watch TV channels and connecting to the Internet through a PC is changing, and it is increasingly common to connect to the Internet through a mobile phone, tablet or TV, as well as enjoy video content and TV channels through the Internet directly on the television screen. This is what we call connected TV, in English “Over the Top TV” (OTT). In this scenario, the Broadcast (classic linear TV) and Broadband (Internet) worlds are combined, giving rise to the concept of hybrid services HBB (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband).

In relation to these changes we must take into account other factors: the migration to HD and 3D formats, the evolution towards linear and non-linear consumption, as well as the multiplication of screens, added elements with a strong demand for bandwidth. Therefore, the new hybrid Broadcast – Broadband (HBB) systems will require the high capacity of Broadcast channels together with high-speed Internet access, with the additional requirement of allowing access to content anywhere and at any time.

As satellite operators, at Hispasat we consider the challenge posed by this new demand as an opportunity, since the specific characteristics of our satellites make them strategic allies in the HBB era, to cover the limitations of current terrestrial networks (DSL, Cable, etc.). Satellite is the ideal platform to offer high quality content (HD, 3D, etc.), as well as high-speed internet access for all citizens and from anywhere.

Current terrestrial networks (DSL, Cable, etc.) have very significant limitations in offering high-quality content at home, and the modernization of terrestrial infrastructure requires large investments that will only be available in urban centers, leaving out a part of the population. Telecommunications infrastructure operators are faced with the challenge of meeting a massive demand for bandwidth, so the efficient and intelligent use of resources will be a key aspect for the success of our companies.

At Hispasat we have experienced extraordinary growth related to the incorporation of High Definition in the DTH platforms that operate on our satellites, which have gone from transmitting one or two HD channels in 2008 to reaching 50% of their total offer, today. The global trend is that HD TV will be the standard television of the future, for which satellite, with great availability of bandwidth, is a fundamental strategic ally.
Likewise, 3D services are being incorporated into the HD offering with good forecasts in the medium term and, in the longer term, UHDTV, which again demand large available bandwidth.

That is why, from Hispasat's perspective, the future lies in the development of hybrid networks and solutions that allow us to offer the services that users are demanding through the joint, efficient and flexible exploitation of Broadband and Broadcast networks.

The challenges of the TV of the future

The increase in demand for bandwidth will be a problem in the short term if the industry and network operators do not seek sustainable and efficient solutions that allow for more intelligent use of resources. In this sense, the saturation of conventional terrestrial networks is imminent, so the satellite will continue to be positioned as a reference platform for the dissemination of high-capacity and high-quality content. Likewise, the universalization of television services in those areas with problems in terrestrial deployment will continue to be one of the challenges for service providers who will have an important ally in satellite to make up for these shortcomings. One of the examples of the Universalization of TV services is the case of DTT-SAT in Spain, thanks to which 100% of the population has access to DTT channels through our satellites Hispasat 1D and 1E.

At Hispasat, we are working to overcome the challenge of evolution towards the HBB era, whose analysis we address through four main axes: content, technological evolution, standardization and the business model. Quality content forms the basis of the audiovisual experience, and undoubtedly constitutes the desire of users and the background of the industry, so greater availability and quality of content will be key to the good development of the sector. Likewise, technological evolution and the development of systems that allow improving the quantity, quality and flexibility of content will also be very important to achieve an increasingly satisfactory user experience. In this sense, our satellites incorporate the most advanced technology, offering the highest levels of coverage and power over 100% of the Spanish territory.

It is worth mentioning the incorporation of the Hispasat-1E satellite to our satellite fleet at the end of last year, thanks to which we have increased our satellite capacity by more than 50 transponders in Ku band and 500 MHz in Ka band, which represents an equivalent capacity of more than 5 Gbps. We are also working on different technological innovation projects to develop new technologies in the field of audiovisual applications, among which JEDI (second generation of 3D TV), SATURNO (satellite and giga connectivity in the digital home), ENGINES (DVB-SH), PHIDIAS (HBB), etc. stand out.

Regarding standardization, at Hispasat we are working in the most relevant national and international forums, including the DVB, where we are part of the steering committee. It is true that in the field of hybrid television, many proprietary standards and systems have emerged that can generate market segmentation that is not positive for the sector. At HISPASAT we believe that the development of a common standard, such as hbbtv, will be essential for the success of connected television of the future. Likewise, standardization is directly related to the business model. The incorporation of new players into the market and the different alliances that have emerged regarding hybrid television pose an uncertain horizon for the system. In this sense, collaboration between different partners in the value chain (manufacturers, content providers, operators) will be the key to success in this domain. In this sense, the Hispasat group participates in the DVB working groups with the aim of developing solutions supported by a common standard.

The satellite in Hybrid Services

What will the new ecosystem of television and hybrid services be like? At Hispasat we are committed to a model where broadcast and broadband complement each other to exploit the benefits and synergies of each.

Thus, in a hybrid television scenario, the satellite will be essential for the broadcasting of high-quality content (linear and non-linear) (HD, 3D, etc.) thanks to the large bandwidth available. These services could be complemented with non-linear content of standard quality through terrestrial infrastructures, either with additional content or with added functionalities.

As an example, we could consider two types of service scenarios: the first considers users who live in urban or suburban areas, with access to high-speed Internet through terrestrial networks. In this case, the satellite would play the role of a powerful broadcasting platform, transmitting the highest bandwidth content (HD, 3D, etc.) and synchronized with Internet applications (content, signaling and complementary information).

In the second scenario, the user is in a suburban or rural area, with limited access to terrestrial networks and without the possibility of accessing high-speed Internet through terrestrial networks. In this scenario, the satellite would play a double role: as a broadcaster of high-quality content and as a provider of high-speed Internet access.

With these two scenarios and taking advantage of the possibilities offered by the great satellite coverage, it would be possible to provide hybrid television service with high quality content to 100% of the population, also assuming a significant decongestion of terrestrial infrastructures.

Conclusions

Connected TV and associated HBB hybrid services are under development. The change will probably be slow, but with a very relevant depth and impact in terms of the exponential increase in the bandwidth demanded and the limitations in the capacities of telecommunications infrastructures.

There is a lot of work to be done and at Hispsat we are convinced that the advantages of satellite will allow it to play a fundamental role as a “Broadcast” medium for the broadcasting of high-quality content (HD, 3D, etc.), as well as a complement to “Broadband” networks to allow access to high-speed internet to 100% of the population and from anywhere.