The four companies that collaborated on this landmark demonstration included:
• ABSAT - the region's leading satellite services provider -contributed transponder capacity on its ARABSAT 2D satellite
• Samacom - the leading provider of satellite communication services in the Middle East - provided end-to-end system operation and uplinking services to the satellite
• SONY Broadcast & Professional MEA provided the HDW-750P HDCAM camera, (J-H3 HDCAM, Player & High Definition Monitor)
• Harmonic Inc (thorough its Regional Technology Partner GloCom based in Dubai) provided its High Definition Television Encoding Technology the DiviCom MV450.
The SONY HDW-750P high definition camera shot pictures live from the CabSat 2005 show floor and the signal was encoded using Harmonic's MV450 HD Encoder and transmitted to an Arabsat satellite using Samacom's flyaway satellite terminal at the CabSat exhibition. The signal received from the Arabsat satellite was displayed live in the exhibition booths of both ARABSAT and Samacom on the show floor.
This is the first time that live HDTV has been transmitted via satellite in the Middle East.
"HDTV is the most important technological development in the broadcast industry since the arrival of colour television and ARABSAT is proud to play a leading role with our partners in showing that HDTV is already here, " said Khalid A. Balkheyour, ARABSAT President & CEO. "This partnership represents an important step toward implementing our core strategy of offering our customers "quality, reliability, and service" he added.
"We are very happy to play a key role in the demonstration of this technology," said Najla Al Shihhe, Marketing Manager of Samacom. "The demonstration charts out a new path for the delivery of HDTV via satellite to consumers in the region. Our participation in this event gives us an excellent opportunity to reinforce our commitment to serve broadcasters targeting the Middle East," she added.
"Sony Broadcast & Professional in the last two years have been actively involved in the region working to provide High Definition End to End solution for content. The opportunity to transmit this content now will enable the consumer to see the massive technical enhancement High Definition picture quality brings to the home. We believe that HD will become the 'standard' format for everyone in the near future," said David Castle, HD, Marketing Manager Sony Broadcast & Professional ME.
"Harmonic is an established leader in its high-end encoding technology enabling HD services around the world and we're thrilled to be part of this exciting trial in demonstrating that the end to end technology is ready for the reception of HD services to the MENA region," said Zahid Mirza, Managing Director for GloCom, a Technology Partner of Harmonic in the MENA region. Zahid expanded on his HD experience during his time with Sony Broadcast in Europe in the late 1980s, "The real benefits of HD TV were restricted to production, post productions and Theaters only due to limitations on bandwidth over satellite. Revolutionary developments during the past two years in Video Compression technology, STB technology and Satellite services completed the missing link in the delivery of HD services to home."
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Broadcast leaders join hands to demonstrate region's first live HDTV transmission via satellite
- United Arab Emirates: Thursday, March 10 - 2005 at 15:26
- PRESS RELEASE
Four leading players in the region's broadcast industry joined forces to demonstrate the region's first ever live HDTV transmission via satellite today during the CabSat exhibition currently being held in Dubai from March 8-10, 2005.
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Notes and media contacts
About ARABSATARABSAT is dedicated to enabling the Arab World with a range of satellite-based communications services. ARABSAT continues to offer customers multi-mission satellite services, such as television, telephony, Internet and the provision of VSAT and other interactive services that meet both current and emerging demands of ARABSAT customers. The ARABSAT vision is to be recognized as the pioneer of satellite communications in the Arab World. ARABSAT is committed to continuously expanding its services in order to meet the evolving needs of customers, delivering an unparalleled level of service by maintaining a quality product, employing the most skilled individuals, and remaining educated in new technologies.
ARABSAT Dubai Regional Office:
Mr. Zaid Al-Khudairi, Regional Manager, Gulf States
Tel: +971 4 367 1113
Fax: + 971 4 367 8059
Address: P.O. Box 502050, Dubai Media City, Dubai, UAE
ARABSAT Media Contact:
Mr. Saad al Tehaif
Tel: +966 14820000
Fax: +966 1 4887999
Address: P.O. Box 1038 (Diplocatic Quarter), Riyadh 11431, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
About Samacom
Sama Communication Company Limited (Samacom)™, a member of Dubai Holding, is the leading provider of satellite communication services in the Middle East. Established in 2001,Samacom™ is a vertically integrated satellite services provider that owns and operates its own communication infrastructure, enabling it to act as a strategic partner to its customers. These facilities include: Operational Infrastructure, Support Services and Solution development services. Samacom also shares infrastructure with other service providers and distributes the services of other networks. Samacom provides world - class professional broadcasting and Internet services via satellites to customers operating not only out of Dubai but also to regional and international customers.
Media Contact:
Baiju Francis
Corporate Communications Dept.
Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone
Tel: +9714-3914068
Fax: +9714-3672790
Address: P.O. Box 73000, Knowledge Village, Dubai, UAE
About Sony Broadcast & Professional ME
Sony Broadcast & Professional ME, based at Dubai Media City (DMC), has had a presence in the Middle East for over 18 years, with the establishment of its first office in the region, in Dubai. Since then Sony B&P MEA, has invested heavily in its operation in the region, with 50 dedicated specialist staff serving the rapidly evolving broadcast and editing needs of the local market.
Sony Broadcast & Professional ME is a leading supplier of broadcast and professional video and audio systems to the Middle East and African regions. In the broadcast arena Sony is best known for the industry standard Betacam range of products, whilst in the professional products division it has an extensive portfolio of state of the art A/V products that address the needs of the private industry, professional users, government bodies, military, educational and medical institutions - (e.g., Digital Camcorders, VTR's, NLE's, Data Management & Storage, Displays Systems, CCTV, Medical, Video Conference, etc)
The company is also unique in these sectors by offering comprehensive and vital support services which allow customers to obtain complete solutions from one supplier throughout the region. This includes technical consultation, system design, build and installation as well as a full range of maintenance support and training programs.
Sony Broadcast & Professional ME is located at Dubai Media City and covers the following countries: United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Djibouti, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran and all of Africa.
Sony Business MEA contact:
David Castle, HD, Marketing Manager, Sony Business Middle East and Africa
Tel: +9714 3918400
Fax: +9714 3918154
Address: P.O. Box 502050, Dubai Media City, Dubai, UAE
Media Contact:
Sawsan Ghanem, PR Consultant, Active PR
Tel: +9714-3900228
Fax: +9714-3904656
Address: P.O. Box 502152, Dubai, UAE
About Harmonic Inc.
Harmonic Inc. is a leading provider of digital video, broadband optical networking and IP delivery systems to cable, satellite, telecom and broadcast network operators. Harmonic's open standards-based solutions for the headend through the last mile enable customers to develop new revenue sources and a competitive advantage by offering powerful interactive video, voice and data services such as video-on-demand, high definition digital television, telephony and Internet access.
Harmonic (Nasdaq: HLIT) is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with R&D, sales and system integration centers worldwide. The Company's customers, including many of the world's largest communications providers, deliver services in virtually every country. Visit www.harmonicinc.com for more information.
About GloCom
GloCom based in Dubai, UAE introduced DiviCom and Harmonic Inc to Middle East region in 1997. Harmonic selected GloCom as its technology and System Integration partner in 1997 and since then GloCom has provided System Design, technology Integrations, Technical Support and Product training to several key Customers in the Middle East region from Dubai. Some of these key customers are Samacom, Showtime, Al-Majd TV, DMI new Look, E-Vision for Etisalat, CNBC Arabia etc. GloCom has a strong and highly skilled team of Technical Solutions architecture and Support Engineers who have been trained by Harmonic and other technology partners for Encryption, VOD solutions, interactive TV solutions. Company has the capability of providing 24X7 technical support for Pay-TV type commercial network with minimum down time. GloCom is equipped with a high-tech investigation Lab and back-up equipments.
GloCom Business MEA contact:
Mr. Zahid Mirza
Lara Lynn Golden, News EditorThursday, March 10 - 2005 at 15:26 UAE local time (GMT+4)
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This article was updated on Wed Mar 21 2007.
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