Newtec-led group push for update on DVB-S2

Satellite technology specialist Newtec has teamed up with Arabsat, Cisco, SES and Thomson Video Networks to push for an update on the DVB-S2 standard for satellite broadcast, specifically for contribution and high-speed IP trunking and backbone links.

The group is pushing for an extension to guarantee interoperability and better satellite efficiency for professional satcom applications, differentiation between contribution and distribution to make the greatest efficiency gains by making the standard aware of the application in which it is being used, an optimisation per application for ranges of typical and realistic conditions, and an increased number of modulation and coding schemes and Forward Error Correction (FEC) choices providing the highest resolution for optimal modulation in all circumstances.

Newtec would also like to see the addition of higher modulation schemes, including 64APSK, which it says could be useful to enable professional applications that could work with improved link budgets provided by, for example, bigger antennas and more powerful satellites.

“We predict that a new DVB standard will lead to significantly more efficient solutions than any DVB-S2 based satellite equipment on the market today is capable of. This step forward is critical to ensuring the continuation of a vibrant and profitable satellite industry,” said Dirk Breynaert, chief technology officer and co-founder of Newtec. “The current DVB standard has served the industry well, but it is now more than 10 years old. We do feel that our satellite industry will benefit even more by having DVB and its members support the idea of developing an extended standard in line with today’s technological advances.”

Newtec is evangelising the benefits of its own new Clean Channel Technology, which will be launched at the Cabsat show in Dubai. According to Newtec, Clean Channel Technology further improves satellite efficiency for IP trunking and backhauling, but also broadcast contribution by up to 15% compared to the current DVB-S2 standard.