With the introduction of digital TV a new way of video transport and delivery has emerged, using the Internet Protocol (IP). Video over IP is a general term to describe the use of IP in any or all stages of video transport to the subscriber (or end-customer). This has to be distinguished from the term IPTV, which means specifically the delivery of video as an IP stream to the subscriber set-top box or TV set. All digital video today that is broadcast, transported over satellite or distributed in cable systems is using the MPEG transport stream (TS) communications protocol.

My previous column for this publication focused on the oil and gas exploration and production sector, with particular reference to the increasing attention of the energy industry on deepwater and ultra-deepwater hydrocarbon reserves which now appear to be much more abundant than was thought ten years ago.

The multi-channel TV industry is more competitive than ever, with a major focus on growing business while navigating the new world of online media and digital content. This was the consensus during the CASBAA Con-vetion held in Hong Kong last November.

The CASBAA Convention 2009, the annual industry meeting organized by the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) in Hong Kong on November 3rd - 6th, drew more than 700 delegates, speakers and media from around the world.

The next Pacific Telecommunications Conference, PTC ’10, will again focus on a hot topic for many in the telecommunication and IT industries, "cloud computing". While seemingly esoteric to many, especially some in the sometimes insular satellite sector, cloud computing is coming to dominate the thinking of planners and implementers in many telecommunications and IT sectors.

by Martin Jarrold, Chief, International Programs Development, GVF

Deployment of broadband satellite technologies is correctly recognized as an imperative to maximization of cutting-edge digital oilfield applications and to considerations of cost-effectiveness – it is a force multiplier, enabling return on investment, as well as facilitating mission critical communications links.

by Robert Bell, World Teleport Association

"Bursty," as you probably know, is a term for communications traffic that unexpectedly lurches from low data rates to high data rates. It is hard to deal with because it presents two unpleasant alternatives: sizing the circuit to handle the maximum requirement, which leaves a lot of expensive capacity idle, or settling for less capacity and knowing that service will slow to a crawl during periods of peak demand. The latest shared-bandwidth and bandwidth-on-demand solutions are specifically designed to deal with bursty traffic.

The CASBAA Convention 2009 to be held in Hong Kong from November 3-6,  is the only industry event in Asia that unites leading visionaries and influencers from satellite, cable TV, broadband, content providers, online platforms, telecommunications, technology, advertising and regulatory organizations in Asia’s 14 markets, which now account for 315m subscription television subscribers.

It was business as usual at CommunicAsia 2009 as 54,354 attendees congregated at Asia’s largest media and IT trade event from June 16-19. Of the total number of attendees, 49 per cent came from outside of Singapore, hailing from about 100 countries across Asia-Pacific, Europe, US and the Middle-East.

Embracing the world of media--Telcos, mobile network operators and ISPs are now as much a part of the media business as broadcasters, cable networks and satellite services. Each is fighting for its fair share of the revenues from what is still a healthy business. But everyone has to collaborate to make the content become a reality.

by Virgil Labrador, Editor-in-Chief

The Satellite Industry Association(SIA) released its 2009 State of the Satellite Industry Report at the ISCe 2009 conference in San Diego, June 3rd. The results of the report show a 19 percent growth in overall world satellite industry revenues – with revenues totaling $144.4 billion in 2008. Global revenues for the satellite industry continue to increase, averaging an annual growth rate of 14.2 percent from 2003 – 2008. Meanwhile, Euroconsult is projecting the industry will grow 50% in the next decade.