TDF Drives French Radio Switchover to DVB-S2
with 2wcom’s FlexDSR Technology
Flensburg, GERMANY — 10 February, 2013 — TDF, France’s major provider of diffusion services, has successfully launched its new DVB-S2 distribution system for radio services, with a new infrastructure based on 2wcom’s FlexDSR DVB satellite receiver. More than 1,700 FlexDSR02/04+ units have been installed at TDF’s broadcast centre and at transmitter sites across the country.
TDF’s DVB-S2 service completely replaces the previous infrastructure, and delivers dozens of channels for TDF customer networks Following from TDF’s choice of FlexDSR, many of its customer networks are now also standardising on 2wcom technology.
2wcom provided systems for TDF’s uplink and downlink, with FlexDSR’s flexible modular architecture allowing the systems to be configured with different channel capacities and various encoders.
The variety of requirements TDF needed to meet for its customer networks led to close technical cooperation during the project, with 2wcom developing extra capabilities in the FlexDSR platform. Support for multiple backup sources in case of input failure from satellite includes IP-backup via UDP or Icecast, and playing direct from FlexDSR’s internal memory or from another ASI input. FlexDSR also provides TDF with an efficient solution for regionalized commercials and regionalized program content insertion. 2wcom’s SIRC (Satellite In-Band Remote Control) plays an important part in the infrastructure, allowing TDF to implement remote control and content distribution to any transmitter site over satellite bandwidth.
“Thanks to the cooperation between TDF and 2wcom over the last months, we have managed to bring the FM Broadcast up to a much higher level by saving satellite bandwidth thanks to DVB-S2 and by addressing customers’ needs in terms of regional customization and advertising.” said Constant Roffey Head End Buyer for TDF.
2wcom’s new FlexDSR02+ and FlexDSR04+ digital satellite receivers offer an exceptionally comprehensive feature set, with support for all major audio formats, automatic program switching, full regionalization capabilities, SIRC remote control through satellite, fail-safe dedicated hardware, and many more functions that allow broadcasters greater operational flexibility and cost savings.
FlexDSR02+/04+ accepts input from satellite (DVB-S/S2), internet (IP), and synchronous transmission lines (STL with ASI). SD card-based internal memory capacity facilitates additional back up solutions and transmission scenarios. Automatic weightbalancing of quality parameters and failover switching to alternative input sources (satellite, IP-line, ASI, SD card) is complemented by seamless audio fading between sources.
“TDF combined all the various different requests from each of their customers into the tender request for the project,” said Werner Drews, managing director of 2wcom. “This made it a a very demanding and complex process but it also resulted in the development of some highly sophisticated features in the final product, which we believe is now the world leader for audio satellite distribution.”
About TDF
Backed by our 6,690 sites, our ultra-high speed network, our technical platforms, our know-how and our customers, the future begins now. Our business consists of connected DTT, video-on-demand, catch-up TV, web media, ultra-high speed connections, datacenters. Our goal is to support you so that you look forward to tomorrow.
About 2wcom
2wcom is a world leader in the manufacture and supply of professional broadcast products for FM, RDS, DAB, DAB+, DVB-S, DVB-S2 and DVB-T, with complete end-to-end DVB-S/S2 Audio/IP Satellite system solutions including professional encoders, modulators and a highly reliable IRD product range. 2wcom’s leading position in the market is based on a track record of technical innovation, high quality and outstanding 24/7 support. Formed in 1996 with the buyout of Rohde & Schwarz’s FM/RDS product range, 2wcom has its development and manufacturing headquarters in Germany, with a worldwide network of dealer partners. More information on 2wcom and its products is available at www.2wcom.com
