LiveLinx, a live broadcast service from AirSpeed Telecom and Digital Space, can now be used across Europe and North Africa following expansion onto the Ka band Hylas satellite platform. The new service should offer “significant operational and financial savings for broadcasters” thanks to: reduced satellite fees compared to Ku band; no need for satellite engineers; lower capital costs as the vehicle is leased; and satellite on demand, using a simple booking system. It is initially being offered to Irish broadcasters, with a subsequent roll out in Europe and North Africa, and will provide broadcasters with a mobile SNG vehicle or Flyaway terminal equipped with a LiveLinx MPEG4 uplink. At launch Livelinx is offering a vehicle-based system for self-operated lease. Connectivity with broadcasters is via a dedicated IP connection from the AirSpeed Telecom PoP. The IP-based service can include web, VPN access and telephony from the remote location. It is launching the new KaVan at IBC (stand OE117). The van is claimed to be an innovative design and will come fully equipped for self operation with cameras, auto acquire antennae, MPEG-4 uplink, dedicated IP connection, and full service level agreement. “The availability of the Ka band satellite platform for broadcasters heralds a game changer in satellite news gathering. Now, for the first time, we have small terminals capable of delivering excellent broadcast quality signals at a much lower cost than was possible with Ku band,” said AirSpeed MD, Liam O’Kelly (pictured). “The fact that this solution is IP based allows a greater range of services to be easily delivered over the link. By adding auto acquire antennas, we have developed a turnkey solution that can be operated by any member of a crew without the need to have a satellite uplink engineer in attendance.” AirSpeed and Digital Space launched Livelinx in 2010 and the service is used by Irish national broadcasters RTE and TV3 for news and sports, as well as fixed live links between Irish stockbrokers and RTE’s financial news desk. www.livelinx.tv By David Fox
