Global mobile solution for streaming variable bit rate HD media over satellite

The VICOMESTRA project was an essential step towards a global mobile solution for streaming variable bit rate High Definition (HD) media over satellite. This reflected growing demand for broadcast quality video content from regions with limited terrestrial infrastructure. In conjunction with this, High Efficiency Video Codec (HEVC/H.265) offers nearly twice the efficiency of the current H.264 codecs. The project successfully showed live HD and SD video transmissions from remote locations with no terrestrial infrastructure using a Quicklink HEVC custom encoder and GX and BGAN HDR terminals. GNSS was also used to demonstrate that all media could be geo-tagged. An initial pilot took place in Europe using the HEVC encoder over the Inmarsat BGAN HDR network. This was followed by a pilot with key broadcasters using the encoder over the Eutelsat NewsSpotter and Inmarsat GX services. The key objective of the project was to introduce a disruptive technology, namely a satellite-optimised HEVC codec which could be integrated in a small, mobile form factor and be powered by standard camera batteries. The VICOMESTRA solution was piloted by key broadcast customers in real life scenarios.