Sky Italia uses Newtec Equalink as part of patented transmission system

Italian DTH platform Sky Italia is using Newtec’s Equalink DVB-S/S2 pre-distortion solution in connection with its transmission solution, already filed as patent.

According to Newtech, the installation has resulted in a 10% performance increase, equating to an additional two channels on each of its 23 transponders.

Italy-based Communication Video Engineering supported Sky Italia in implementing Newtec modulators and the Equalink DVB-S/S2 predistortion system.

According to Newtec, Equalink provides improvements by predistorting the modulated signal to compensate for linear degradations generated by filters and non-linear degradations generated by satellite transponder amplifiers.
Sky Italia innovation and engineering eanager Massimo Bertolotti said that having trialled other solutions, Equalink impressed the team by making sizable improvements of 80Mbps in total.

“Using this solution we can transmit the signal closer to the saturation of the transponder and closer to the edge of the transponder frequency range. As a result, more power and more throughput are available, and therefore more channels and services for our customers,” said Bertolotti.

Serge van Herck, CEO of Newtec, said the solution is designed to help Sky Italia and other DTH providers who are competing against an increasing number of alternative media providers. “Equalink has demonstrated its ability to increase the link efficiency for Sky Italia enabling it to offer even more value to its customers,” said Van Herck.

Equalink, as well as Sky Italia’s invention, can be used in conjunction with any standard satellite set-top box. Equalink is available as an option on Newtec’s Azimuth modulators.

Newtec will be exhibiting at IBC on Stand 1.A49