Rich Peske, VP, Product Management, ARRIS
Ultra-high-definition (Ultra HD) services, including 4K and HDR (High Dynamic Range), have been garnering a good deal of attention worldwide. Increasingly common among Video on Demand (VOD) titles, live Ultra HD channels are also widely available, with over 60 channels in service as of April 2017 across DTH, IPTV, Cable, and OTT. Television displays capable of 4K and Ultra HD are now commonplace. In addition, operators are starting to use HEVC, not only for Ultra HD, but also to save bandwidth for HD and SD services. The increased complexity of the HEVC compression algorithm and the increased pixel count of 4K and 8K resolutions is placing a heavy burden on video encoding products. The higher bandwidths (20 Mbps and more) required for 4K creates a problem for service providers, who are already challenged to find room on their systems for higher broadband data rates and more channels.
Service providers are looking for lower bit-rates, better power and density, and, of course, less expensive encoding solutions for Ultra HD and HEVC. Currently dominated by software-based techniques, new encoding products are now emerging that take advantage of optimized integrated circuits to improve performance and costs.
The ARRIS ME-7000 Converged Compression platform, which will be on display at NAB 2017 in the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), April 24-27, uses the latest silicon technology used in advanced video cameras. Combined with optimized firmware for live broadcast streaming, it lowers bit-rates by over 20% and delivers density and power improvements of 80-90% compared to current software encoding techniques. These major performance improvements will enable service providers to affordably offer more Ultra HD services and take advantage of the roughly 50% bit-rate improvement enabled by HEVC to offer their customers the new services that they are demanding.
Visit our booth #SU1916 at the LVCC to learn more!
