Grass Valley and CenturyLink Successfully Establish 100G Cross-Country Remote Link from Florida to Oklahoma

Grass Valley and CenturyLink Successfully Establish 100G Cross-Country Remote Link from Florida to Oklahoma posted: 25/06/2019

Grass Valley has underlined its position as a frontrunner in the industry transition to IP with another breakthrough in remote IP video production. The company has joined forces with global network provider CenturyLink to successfully test a remote link between cameras at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida and a base station in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Using CenturyLink's 100 Gbps high-speed fiber circuit and Grass Valley's DirectIP feature, the test demonstrates that uncompressed multi-camera signals can be reliably and robustly delivered from point to point eliminating the need for large production crews and complex outside broadcast (OB) set-ups on location.

During the test, three Grass Valley LDX 86N cameras were deployed in Miami running at high-speed - 10 Gbps each - demonstrating a robust IP workflow between cameras, switchers and XCU Universe XF base stations, even with high bandwidth usage. Using Grass Valley's unique DirectIP configuration, uncompressed signals were transmitted via CenturyLink's 100 Gbps high-speed fiber circuit to base stations and operational control panels (OCPs) located at the network provider's point of presence (POP) in Tulsa. CenturyLink is the first company to demonstrate 100 Gbps capabilities.

Bill Woutnaka, vice president, CenturyLink commented: Together with Grass Valley we have demonstrated we can support remote camera signals, whatever the resolution and speed, from any place where we have a fiber link. The combination of our ability to deliver high-speed fiber circuits of 100 Gbps and this trial is a real gamechanger.

The DirectIP configuration on the Grass Valley cameras delivers a robust and reliable way to handle signal distribution at higher bandwidths. It is easy to set up and maintain via a centralized control room to ensure the highest performance levels. DirectIP allows the remote site to integrate seamlessly with the production, regardless of the distance.

Recent projects, such as the 2019 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, have cemented the role of IP-based remote/at-home production as a field-proven way to meet the growing demand for captivating viewing experiences, said Mark Hilton, vice president of live production, Grass Valley. As the only camera manufacturer that delivers all-IP communication between a camera head and its base station, we enable our customers to push the boundaries of what is possible, allowing them to focus on high impact tasks that create truly compelling viewing experiences without the need for unwieldy infrastructures and workflows. We are very proud to have joined forces with CenturyLink to bring this model to customers in the US, giving them the ability to eliminate the need for compression equipment or trucks at the live venue.

CenturyLink and Grass Valley will be undertaking additional trials in the coming months. These will further demonstrate that even the largest productions can be supported with a remote/at-home model, delivering valuable cost savings and cutting down set-up times.

LINK:	https://www.live-production.tv/news/products/grass-valley-and-centuryl...
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