Stand 3.141, IBC, Amsterdam – 7th September 2007 - Media Links, a leading provider of high-definition video transport solutions, announced today the full launch of its HD-GigE Video IP Gateway solution into the European market. The HD-GigE IP gateway transports multiple HD-SDI/SD-SDI/ASI signals bi-directionally over IP networks and offers a cost effective alternative to traditional video transport services. This is the latest product in a comprehensive range of HD processing and transport solutions from Media Links. The HD-GigE delivers HD, SDI or DVB-ASI video signals over a standard Gigabit Ethernet interface providing IP network cost advantages and economies of scale.

The HD-GigE is capable of correcting packet loss as well as adjusting the IP bandwidth when video is no longer present.  It combines HD compression technology and IP video encapsulation to offer the industry’s most robust HD transport solution, adapting HD contribution quality content to today’s IP/MPLS networks. With adjustable bit rate capabilities, HD-GigE allows links to be shared with other video signals and user IP traffic.

Offering a cost effective solution that fits both the broadcast and carrier industry, the HD-GigE is designed with advanced features such as variable compression bit rates, adjustable delay for automatic packet retransmission, auto detect and transparent pass-thru of SDI or ASI video signals in a 2RU shelf. Built-in web-server and SNMP MIB enables remote configuration and status monitoring. Standard definition and ASI signals are automatically detected and passed through transparently. 

“As the world migrates to IP networks, broadcasters and carriers alike are trying to take advantage of the economies of scale possible. Of course, compression quality is of fundamental importance. Media Links’ expertise in video and IP transport has facilitated the development of the HD-GigE product, one that allows optimum quality compression while taking advantage of IP network architectures,” explains John Dale III, Director, Product Management.

Key HD-GigE Product Features/Benefits 

 §          Automatically transports SD or HD signals across IP network. Allowing broadcasters to send uncompressed SD or compressed HD signals over a single link without reconfiguration, simplifying operations and reducing system setup time.
§          Built-in error correction and packet retransmission. With short duration (single bit or packet) and long duration (up to one second outage) able to be corrected to deliver pure, uninterrupted video.
 §          Advanced, standards-based compression for HD signals. Enabling up to three HD signals to be carried on a single Gigabit Ethernet link, increasing network utilization and reducing per-circuit costs.
 §          Extremely low end-to-end delay (fewer than 16 milliseconds). Ideal for use in live broadcasts and two-way video interviews; eliminating the need to add audio delays to compensate for video compression delays.

June saw a successful European trial of the technology concluded at the TERANA Networking Conference in Lynby, Denmark. The Media Links equipment was purchased by the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg for use in conducting research in the multimedia networking and network measurement arenas. The HD transmission circuits were set up between Friedrich-Alexander University and the Technical University of Denmark. The HD-GigE encoders transmitted HD-SDI video over a layer-2 network connection at a distance of 2000km at various bitrates ranging from 251Mbps to 418 Mbps.  

About Media Links Inc.

Media Links Inc., headquartered in Milford, CT is providing the technology of choice to transport HD signals reliably, over existing IP/SONET contribution and primary distribution network infrastructures, eliminating the need to install and manage expensive HD encoders and Telco adapters. Moreover, by utilizing standards complaint IP encapsulation, Media Links is poised to seamlessly integrate current products to next generation IP networks and offer a flexible and cost effective migration path for its customers.