Industry Briefs
OmniGlobe Wins Middle East Backhaul, Mobile DSNG Contracts

OmniGlobe Networks EMEA has won two contracts to provide backhaul platforms and mobile services in the Middle East, the company announced Sept. 15.

    Arabsat selected OmniGlobe to provide 12 new backhauling platforms for the transmission of SCPC TV streams throughout the Arab world countries. The new platforms will be designed for continuous operation, capable of receiving their own signals for monitoring purposes and will be equipped with extensive control and diagnostic functions, both on and off sites.
OmniGlobe will supply, design, integrate, test and commission the broadcast contribution earth stations and all other associated equipment and systems, including earth station/RF chains/baseband equipment chains. The manufacturer will produce small aperture antennas with associated RF compliant with the ITU Appendix 30B frequency band, as offered across the Arabsat 5-A satellite.
The entire project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2010.

    Separately, OmniGlobe signed a contract with the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) to supply mobile Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) services for connection to the Multimedia Exchange Network Over Satellite (MENOS) network, OmniGlobe announced Sept. 15.

   The deal will see OmniGlobe partnering with Sat-Comm to deliver compact vehicle-based DSNG solutions that are tailored to match ASBU’s specific requirements and optimized for the terrain conditions of the Middle East and North Africa regions.

   The three “Buckys” will be equipped with mobile auto-deploy AuraSat 1.2m antenna systems as well as all the associated equipment required to convert the video signals for direct transmission to a satellite. The vehicles will also include video cameras as well as audio and video editing capabilities, and operate over multiple satellites, allowing digital transmission to the MENOS network. 

    “The broadcast industry is extremely fast-paced and we are constantly looking at ways to improve our technology and services, and provide optimum broadcast services. OmniGlobe was chosen based on their industry experience, high level of customer service and ability to deliver a unique and robust solution to closely match our operational and environmental requirements,” said Abdelrahim Suleiman, ASBU director of engineering affairs, in a statement.