The network, from Swedish company Net Insight and implemented by local partner Advanced Communication and Electronics Systems (ACES), will utilise STC’s underlying Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) infrastructure to enable any broadcast media service to be set up quickly and dynamically between sites, with highly efficient workflows.

STC’s new broadcast network will initially be configured for HD content, with the option of scaling up to 4K and 8K at a future date. Higher video quality will also be achieved through Net Insight's low latency JPEG2000 compression for production and contribution feeds, while MPEG will be used for distribution feeds. The infrastructure supports the AES/EBU and MADI standards for audio.

“This is a market making application of technology and will change the way broadcasters cover live events and the broadcast media engineering sector in general. Essentially, our network is almost everywhere, meaning that Saudi Broadcasting Corporation or any broadcaster who has an agreement with them can generate a live feed from anywhere in the country. Separately, this also means that broadcast media signals will be ingested IP first from their source, meaning TV audiences will have access to amazing new viewing experiences,” said Dr Tarig Enaya, senior vice president of Enterprise, STC.

Fredrik Tumegård, CEO of Net Insight, added: “Our impact and presence in the Middle-East and across a number of other geographies across the world is growing. Partnerships and deployments such as the STC implementation shine a strong light on the pathway for telcos in the region to migrate further towards a more agile, on-demand, infrastructure that the entire broadcasting world is moving towards, where network capacity can be booked and services can provisioned instantly and automatically. This is the first stage in that journey.”

Network engineering company ACES is implementing the project and providing managed network services.