Hokkaido, Media Links build Japanese TV Distribution Network
April 11, 2023
Media Links, manufacturer and pioneer in Media over IP transport technology, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, has announces that a joint agreement with Hokkaido Telecommunications Network Corporation (hereinafter referred to as ‘HOTnet’) has been reached. Planning is now underway to build an IP-based TV distribution network in Hokkaido, Japan using Media Links’ MDP3020 IP media gateway and MDX aggregation switching equipment. This agreement will enable the construction of Japan’s first TV distribution network over HOTnet’s optical fibre infrastructure using the ubiquitous Internet Protocol (IP) along with the PTP (Precision Time Protocol- IEEE 1588) standard for time-critical synchronisation. HOTnet and Media Links will work closely together combining their expertise in system design, integration, installation, and network commissioning.The HOTnet TV distribution network will have the ability to transport video content and timing information with extremely high accuracy from one or more TV broadcasting stations over their fibre optic infrastructure to corresponding TV transmitter sites. Using Media Links MDP3020 IP Media Gateways to encapsulate the broadcast station baseband video information into an IP protocol stream, accompanying Media Links MDX-48X6C IP switches will then direct both video IP content and PTP timing information across the optical network to receiving TV transmitter site(s). MDP3020’s located at these TV transmitter sites will convert this precisely timed video over IP information back to baseband video and then forward on to the actual TV transmitter towers for conventional over-the-air terrestrial broadcasts.Because the HOTnet TV distribution network will be IP-based, configurations can be easily and cost-effectively changed, rerouted, and/or scaled, while also arranged to be redundant for maximum signal protection and reliability. Additionally, all Media Links equipment is capable of monitoring and assuring network as well as individual signal integrity.