IP TV Distribution - A Head in Front

The challenge of providing a flexible, cost-effective and especially portable solution to the tricky task of broadcast quality live sports events - from 13 Norwegian racecourses - had to be tackled by Digital Vision, currently Norway's largest digital TV producer.

The solution: Nera's CityLink IP radio link delivering signals from Digital Vision's outside broadcast buses to their IP-based broadband fibre optic network in Oslo, where everything is edited and forwarded to TV channels in Norway and abroad.

Collaboration was the key to the technological solution, with Nera joining forces with TANDBERG Television and CISCO Systems. TANDBERG Television provided the Digital Encoders, Decoders and IP processors. CISCO Systems provided the GSR gigabit routers to allow video services to be delivered with a high degree of Quality of Service.

A 12,500 kilometre-long fibre optics/radio links network owned by BaneTele, a division of the Norwegian state railway company, also played a key role. Leasing a number of fibre optic cables from BaneTele formed the basis of the IP network.

The combination of BaneTele and NERA radio links as the last mile solution, could ultimately emerge as a rival to the traditional TV distribution networks in Europe.