ARK Multicasting Demonstrates first end-to-end 5G Broadcast Network

ARK Multicasting, Inc., demonstrated the first end-to-end delivery of IP streaming video content last week in collaboration with its key technology partners. The testing was successful utilizing the next generation ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard from studio origination to the consumer edge. This is an important benchmark in proving the ability to deliver IP video streaming services nationwide over the ARK^TM broadcast network.

The demonstration originated with International Broadcasting Network (IBN) content in Cedar Hill, TX from the AMV Westar master control facility. Intelsat provided the satellite IP transmission via their gateway and uplink services using a Newtec supplied IP hub. The signal was pulled down into the ARK^TM lab environment at the Hitachi Comark headquarters in Southwick, MA. It was then transmitted through a complete ATSC 3.0 broadcast television stack to a Samsung ATSC 3.0 compatible television. As part of this phase of the proof of concept, DigiCAP also demonstrated their ATSC 3.0 home media gateway by simultaneously streaming four discrete video streams over WiFi to a TV, laptop, tablet and smart phone. Hitachi Comark was the system integrator for this test with participation by technologists from 13 different companies and 3 continents. Dick Fiore, president of Hitachi Comark commented, “Comark Digital Services was founded for this particular purpose to bring about exciting new ways of utilizing the ATSC-3 standard to enhance the viewing experience and to expand IP based services to areas that previously were under deployed. This is just another great step forward by leaders of organizations that have the vision and drive to make things happen. We as well as all of our partners are ready to help in this interesting and exciting time to further drive technology to its maximum usage.”

ARK^TM CEO, Vern Fotheringham added that, “The most exciting thing about broadcast 5G is our now-demonstrated ability to simulcasting content across a nationwide IP multicast network that enables virtually unlimited OTT video and IP data delivery directly to consumers. This is a stark contrast to the existing fixed and mobile carrier’s reliance on unicast one-to-one connection-based solutions that further impact the over-stressed architecture of today’s Internet.”

“Broadpeak is very proud to be a part of the ARK^TM  5G and ATSC 3.0 trials. The combination of our nanoCDN™ multicast ABR for satellite and BkS350 Origin Packager enables the recording, packaging and delivery via satellite of the most popular live shows and VOD content”, stated Jacques Le Mancq, CEO at Broadpeak. “This innovative workflow will allow local TV stations to restream and distribute national and local content in ABR formats. We are excited to work with forward thinking customers like ARK Multicasting, Inc.^TM and all of the other best of breed partners associated with this project.”

“We are delighted that ARK Multicasting, Inc.^TM has chosen Newtec to power its trials of 5G and ATSC 3.0,” said Thomas Van den Driessche, CEO at Newtec. “IP video streaming over satellite is key for successful and scalable delivery of both high bitrate live video as well as VOD content over a vast geographical area. Newtec Dialog, our VSAT platform, enables efficient transmission of content to the edge using the DVB-S2X standard and other efficiency improvement technologies, while the return channel enables feedback for CDN Analytics and centralized DRM operation.

About ARK Multicasting, Inc.

ARK Multicasting is a broadcast company on the cutting edge of technology and the next generation of content delivery throughout the USA. ARK^TM is leveraging the power of television broadcasting to add an IP multicast extension to the Internet.  The architecture of the ARK network brings the one-to-millions efficiency of broadcasting to the traditional one-to-one unicast Internet.  ARK^TM will reduce the cost per GB delivery of Over-the-Top (OTT) video content, software downloads and streamed IP media by two-three orders of magnitude compared to existing Internet service providers. Media content creators and distributors will benefit from ARK’s end-to-end direct delivery to the mobile and fixed devices of their audiences bypassing all of the existing gatekeepers.