Ultra-fast delivery of radio and TV content with optical circuit switching
In today’s fast-paced digital age, the availability of reliable, ultra-high-speed connectivity has become an essential component of modern broadcast networks. As the demand for flexibility in creating, editing, distributing and broadcasting content increases, so does the expectation for instant availability across any network type and the termination on a wide variety of platforms, including online and streaming platforms.
In the past, broadcasters and TV agencies only had to produce and deliver content in standard definition (SD). However, with the emergence of high-definition (HD) and ultra-high-definition (UHD), producers now have to create three versions of the same content in different formats, with their associated audio and data streams. This is a complex undertaking, as the new digital video formats and their timely delivery mean a much higher volume of data and requires the latest high-speed data transmission technology. As a result, broadcasters and TV producers are moving away from traditional, less flexible products, to align more closely with flexible and ubiquitous telecom standards.
Fiber optics for high-speed transmission
Due to increasing customer demands for fast content production and delivery, today's communication networks are based on fiber optic technology. In contrast to coaxial cables, optical fiber enables almost loss-free data transmission over long distances, with much lower cross talk and signal distortion, and at much lower cost.
This transformation to deploying standard optical transmission equipment means a more flexible and efficient architecture can be created with agnostic, optical circuit switching at the physical layer.
Optical circuit switches are the solution
Optical circuit switches switch data between different network connections while preserving it in optical form. This allows for faster more reliable communication and enables broadcasters to handle large amounts of data at high speeds without the signal degradation that can occur in traditional switching methods. In addition, optical switches can help reduce network latency and improve overall network performance, ensuring that broadcast content is delivered to viewers quickly and reliably. The switches are software-controlled and can easily be integrated into various broadcast management systems and operated remotely, eliminating human error from manual patching.
In summary, optical circuit switching is revolutionising how content is created, distributed and viewed. The technology is transforming the broadcasting and TV industry and enabling producers to meet the growing demand for high-quality, high-definition content.
To learn more about POLATIS optical circuit switching and the benefits it can bring to broadcasting radio and TV content, read our latest whitepaper.
