Imagine launches main control of Egyptian public broadcaster ENMA

The upgraded facility provides flexibility, security and efficiency in the operations of the Egyptian National Media Authority.

Imagine Communications is launching a completely updated master control and broadcast platform for the newly created Egyptian National Media Authority (ENMA), formerly Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU), the national broadcaster of Egypt. The gradual upgrade of this installation is designed to offer a high level of operational resilience and integrates seamlessly with the broadcaster's existing infrastructure, ensuring a simple and secure transition to IP when the broadcaster is ready to migrate its operations.

Rafaat Younes, chief director of ENMA's studio projects department, highlights that "as we are the national broadcaster and broadcast major television channels to Egyptian audiences, we have recognized the need to install equipment that is operationally well-tested by major global broadcasters. It was crucial that we invest in our facilities to upgrade them with the latest robust and reliable technologies, as staying on the air is paramount."

“As a long-standing partner, Imagine Communications showed us how we can leverage the latest technology to expand our operations, with the reliability and resilience we were looking for,” adds Younes.

The main control room mainly deals with ENMA's four national premium channels and the production center; Next to it is the satellite control room, which monitors all other channels delivered by ENMA through Nilesat. With the installation of network, monitoring and broadcast solutions from Imagine Communications, ENMA is not only reaching new levels of on-air security, but is also taking important steps on the path of transition to a software-centric, IP-based broadcast architecture.

Anas Hantash, Director of MESA and North Africa at Imagine Communications, comments: "ENMA wanted to expand its capabilities by improving operations. We discussed the best way to implement its requirements in a way that integrates with the rest of its operations without interruption. The new main control room and satellite room, for example, communicate with other legacy systems through SDI, and will allow ENMA to create new efficiencies and expand capabilities when they take the next step in their IP migration path."

Imagine Communications solutions incorporated into ENMA facilities include a matrix IP3 Platinum con multipantalla Platinum SX Pro integrated, providing expanded sources and outputs in a small footprint. Once ENMA is ready to take the next step towards a full IP infrastructure, Platinum IP3 will allow them to switch uncompressed video over IP and allow the multi-display to take full advantage of multiplexed IP streams to monitor hundreds of PiPs on hundreds of displays, giving ENMA the ability to change its monitor stacks to meet its needs at different times.

The installation also includes the platform Nexio+ AMP Advanced Media Platform, a sophisticated software application running on industry-leading standard Hewlett Packard Enterprise servers, to manage digital content from ingest to output, and signal processing and conversion using Selenio's MCP and Selenio 6800+ modules.

The system was supplied and designed in conjunction with Imagine Communications systems integration partner, Integrated Communications Systems. The first phase of the system was issued in July, while the second phase is scheduled for this month of September 2019.