Eutelsat Validates MAINDATA’s SFN Boost for DVB-SIS “Single Illumination Satellite” Compliance

Eutelsat has officially confirmed the interoperability of broadcast solution provider MAINDATA’s SFN Boost platform, ensuring that it meets the rigorous standards of the DVB-SIS (Single Illumination Satellite) and functions harmoniously with other vendor equipment.

Since January 2024, Eutelsat has been testing the SFN Boost. These comprehensive tests have verified the adapter’s proficiency in receiving a primary DTH parent stream from Eutelsat’s head-end, including DVB-SIS signalling from a Control Stream Generator (CSG) by a different brand. In addition, the adapter has proven its capability to generate a T2-MI signal, essential for DVB-T2 transmitters.

The product’s reliability was confirmed over several months of rigorous testing, with various T2-MI analyzers and DVB-T2 modulators across SFN and MFN modes. The SFN Boost Rx adapter consistently met all performance benchmarks underscoring its stability and robustness.

Ralph Edeine, TV Reception and Video Standardization Manager at Eutelsat said, “Eutelsat regards the successful interoperability among different vendors as a landmark achievement, prior to deployment of a new digital TV industry standard. DVB-SIS equips Eutelsat with a huge advantage for the distribution of signals to terrestrial TV networks, offering a superior alternative to traditional methods such as fibre optics or microwave networks. Additionally, it serves as a reliable and efficient backup, or redundancy solution, for DTT broadcasters.”

“Since 2023, Eutelsat’s deployment of DVB-SIS technology has been instrumental in TV signal distribution to terrestrial DVB-T2 transmitters via DTH satellite, including for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics Games in France. This technology has supported the launch of UHD services on France’s terrestrial television network, now accessible to 70% of the population. The DVB-SIS single illumination concept ensures that the remaining population can receive the signal via FRANSAT, the DTH platform of DTT channels, operated by Eutelsat for the French market, without requiring additional satellite distribution capacity and offering cost optimization for all the ecosystem partners.”

Dušan Statelov, MAINDATA CEO, added, “I’m grateful to Eutelsat for their pivotal support in the DVB-SIS V&V testing, both within the DVB group and as an independent initiative. Eutelsat’s contribution to fostering vendor compatibility is significant, which ultimately serves the greater good of the entire industry.

The partnership between Eutelsat and MAINDATA on DVB-SIS V&V (Validation & Verification phase) began at DVB World in Brussels, June 2023. The need for DVB-SIS V&V was emphasized by the MAINDATA CEO Mr Dusan Statelov during a session at the event. Challenges faced by Eutelsat with existing DVB-SIS vendors led to a call for action, supported by Mr. Ralph Edeine of Eutelsat and Mr. David Peilow a DVB CM Chair, to incorporate DVB-SIS V&V into the DVB plenary meeting agenda. Subsequent analysis by MAINDATA in the summer of 2023 identified compliance issues with alternative solutions, prompting enhancements that have now resulted in successful interoperability across vendors.

Through an extensive two-year R&D project, MAINDATA has innovated its SFN Boost platform, which merges its proprietary centralized architecture with a distributed model standardized by DVB-SIS. MAINDATA’s CEO has been a member of the DVB-SIS standardization group since 2015.

The R&D project was supported by an EU grant, a testament to its innovation, awarded the Seal-of-Excellence from the European Innovation Council, a distinction reserved for Europe’s most inventive SMEs.