Madrid, 20th March 2024

SAPEC anticipates an IP-defined present and future at NAB 2025

• At booth W3734 in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, SAPEC, a European company, will showcase the in-demand gateway function for the LAGUNA family of encoders and decoders.
• The SMPTE 2110 ecosystem will be consolidated within the SAPEC solutions, demonstrating the importance of IP in today’s broadcast universe, along with other relevant technologies such as SRT or RIST.
• SIVAC-ONE, GREDOS and the technology of its partner Video-MOS will also be part of a complete demonstration, displaying a family of products that is constantly evolving to meet the new challenges of the industry.

Madrid, 20th March 2024 – SAPEC returns to NAB, the broadcast industry’s reference show for the Americas, from 6-9 April, to bring its decades of experience in the most demanding broadcast contexts to the development of a vision with an absolute protagonist: IP. Concepts such as SMPTE 2110, SMPTE 2022, SRT or RIST cut across SAPEC’s developments in video contribution and distribution to address an industry in transition. All this without forgetting SDI environments, which continue to play a key role for broadcasters, production companies and service providers.

In addition, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Spanish developer will unveil one of the most in-demand innovations for its renowned LAGUNA family of encoders and decoders: a new licensable gateway function that expands the capabilities of a versatile and proven device in the most demanding environments.

This will be complemented by a complete showcase of SIVAC-ONE, SAPEC’s key device for the UHD universe; the range of H.264/MPEG-2 encoders with integrated GREDOS II modulator; and other tools from partners such as Video-MOS, which will present the latest developments in its subjective quality measurement solution based on the MOS parameter.

“The IP universe presents a number of challenges as well as opportunities,” said Miguel Angel Cristobal, CEO of SAPEC. “SAPEC is more than ready to respond to these challenges with a large family of products that can handle the most demanding workflows. Our R&D team has worked hard to remain at the forefront of the global broadcast industry and the fruits of their efforts will be on display at NAB 2025,” he adds.

LAGUNA adds Gateway function

Each of the four versions of the multi-channel UHD/HD/SD LAGUNA platform, SINGLE (single channel), DUAL (two channels), QUAD (four channels) and OCTAL (eight channels), will receive a new optional licence at NAB 2025 that will allow them to add a third feature to their encoder and decoder functions that will open up great opportunities for broadcasters and content producers: the Gateway functionality.

Thanks to this new development, LAGUNA will be able to offer up to 8 IP to IP conversions that can be sent to 8 different destinations. Whether through the SMPTE 2022 standard or through new developments of great importance in professional environments, such as SRT or RIST (Video Service Forum protocol for transporting content over public networks), the SAPEC solution will be able to multiply its signal transmission possibilities, adding a new level of versatility to an already compact, efficient and powerful solution.

Designed for processes such as multichannel video contribution, DTT distribution, two-way applications, transport over public IP networks or UP/DOWN conversions, LAGUNA is also compatible with SMPTE 2110 environments, which has made it part of some of the most advanced installations in European TV environments over the last year.

Visitors to the Las Vegas show will also be able to enjoy a wide range of demonstrations in LAGUNA environments, including the use of the UHD licence for the QUAD (LMP4000) and OCTAL (LMP8000) versions, the display of thumbnails or the ability to perform analysis and monitoring using the ETR-290 specification.

SIVAC-ONE, GREDOS II and a wide range of third party solutions

In addition to the LAGUNA models, SAPEC will showcase its full range of contribution and distribution solutions, which have undergone a process of evolution in recent months and will soon receive further enhancements, demonstrating the company’s vision to create future-proof platforms.

SIVAC-ONE, a modular FPGA-based ultra-low latency (less than 170ms glass-to-glass) encoding and decoding platform with UHD-HDR capabilities, will demonstrate why it has been chosen by leading broadcasters to contribute to the coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Whether with its 3G model or its 12G interface in electrical and optical modes, SAPEC’s solution will demonstrate its ability to handle UHD/3G/HD signals with WCG and HDR signalling for remote contribution based on HEVC/H.265.

Another major attraction of the SAPEC showcase at NAB 2025 will be the presentation of the GREDOS II family of H.264/MPEG-2 encoders with integrated modulator, featuring the ability to integrate two types of modulator: Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) with support for ATSC or ISDB-TB, or a satellite modulator (DVB-S/S2/S2x). The solution continues to penetrate global markets by supporting up to two video channels (SD/HD) and simultaneous audio channels with MPEG-1/AAC/Dolby AC3 and EAC3 compression and optionally HEVC with 4:2:0 or 4:2:2:2 profiles.

In addition, SAPEC will showcase for the American market The CornerCam camera banner system, developed by SAPEC’s R&D team. The solution aims to provide an alternative to football corner flags thanks to a system that integrates two cameras (top and bottom) with HD 1080i capabilities and horizontal remote control. This innovative system is connected to the mobile units via fibre optics, remotely controlled by a joystick system and features a pre-selection and multi-screen system created by SAPEC itself.

On stand W3734 in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the latest developments from SAPEC partners such as Video-MOS, a company specialising in content quality control using AI and the subjective quality measurement parameter MOS, will also be on show. The system continues to evolve with an enhanced version of its artificial intelligence engine and a promising roadmap with the future inclusion of ETR 290 monitoring for QoS or future compatibility with UHD environments. Many other SAPEC partners will also be present at NAB 2025: Acromove (W3707), BBright (W3650), Nevion (Sony) (N439), Sencore (W2301), Video Clarity (W1334) or Worldcast Systems (W3115), among others.

About SAPEC

SAPEC is a company based in Spain with offices in Mexico, which designs, develops and manufactures reliable video contribution and distribution solutions for highly demanding broadcast and telecommunications environments.

Its solutions allow the transport of audiovisual content with professional quality in real time and without limitations either through satellite, fiber optics, IP, radio links…

www.sapec.es 

SAPEC, Your Reliable Video Transport Solutions

Madrid, Mexico City, Copenhague, March 1st, 2021

SAPEC: COMPRESSION TECHNIQUES OF UHD 8K VIDEO 

Different Ultra High Definition content compression techniques have been tested in SAPEC laboratories for encoding of 8K resolution content with HEVC standards and existing hardware on the market. 

 The new 8K video format has a resolution of 7680 pixels x 4320 lines. It is therefore a format that quadruples the total number of pixels compared to 4K. Increasing the pixel density of the screen results in an improvement in the viewing experience, perceived as sharper edges, brighter colours, and increased contrast and depth. 

Illustration 1 HD vs 4K vs 8K Source: https://www.resolucion8k.com/

There are already televisions on the market that support UHD 8K resolution. However, being able to cover the entire transmission chain continues to present significant challenges. At SAPEC, as a developer of solutions for the transmission of video signals, we are especially concerned with the compression of 8K content. 

HEVC Compression

Currently the best option available to compress 8K video, and that offers the best compatibility between different manufacturers, is the HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) standard, also known as ITU H.265. As we have already mentioned, the 8K format quadruples the number of pixels compared to 4K, which implies an increase in the bandwidth requirement necessary to transmit the signal.

According to the first tests, using HEVC, the bitrate needed for 8K video transmission at optimal quality would be slightly more than double that for 4K. Thus, the required bitrate values are so high that they could exceed the maximum conditions of some live broadcast media infrastructures. These required bitrate values can be reduced if we work off-line (without real-time requirements) applying different compression techniques. 

In addition to bandwidth requirements, we must also pay attention to time requirements. The strictest case being live or real-time compression, in which the compression speed must be equal to or greater than the rate of images per second. 

To meet this challenge, SAPEC engineers have implemented temporal and spatial parallelization techniques offered by the HEVC standard: 

• With spatial parallelization we mean dividing the image into smaller fragments so that they are processed in parallel, to later receive the result of each of the fragments and form a single output stream. 
• With temporal parallelization we mean to execute the work of compression of images (or groups of images) which do not have dependencies between them, at the same time. It is also possible, especially if we work with files and the low delay is not a requirement, to divide the sequence into fragments corresponding to one or more GOPs (Group Of Pictures). 

The problems that arise for compression today in terms of bandwidth and greater processing capacity requirement (although they could be solved with current tools) it is to be expected that in the close future there will be available more efficient solutions in bandwidth and required hardware cost. For this to happen we would need to wait for the launch of new compression standards such as H. 266/VVC (Versatile Video Coding) together with the improvement of the actual hardware. 

8K Video Transmission

In terms of further UHD standardization by the relevant organizations, it is expected that in the coming years, this work will continue to define use cases for 8K. 

SAPEC recently participated in the demonstration carried out by the Chair of Spanish Radio and Television (RTVE) at the Technical University of Madrid, where the world first broadcast of an UHD 8K signal over DVB-T2 was performed. SAPEC carried out the HEVC encoding/compressing of the 8K content that was broadcast during these tests to create a TS that could be modulated in DVB-T2. This transmission was carried out simultaneously on Cellnex (Spanish TV Operator) UHD network throughout different locations in Spain. 

Illustration 2 Presentation of the world first broadcast UHD 8K over DVB-T2. In the picture, Miguel Cristobal, CEO at SAPEC

Related Links:

• Press Release about the event: https://sapec.es/sapec-cooperates-with-rtve-to-8k/ 

• Video (<3min) about the role of SAPEC on 8K compression (in Spanish with English subtitles): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksF6RaTBqM0 

Technical Article 

SAPEC has reflected its experiences and techniques used on these tests in a document that goes into a deeper technical detail than this press release. In this technical article, can be find more information about the parallelization techniques and the bibliographic references used in this study. 

Access to the Technical Article:: https://sapec.es/technical-articles/ 

About SAPEC

SAPEC S.A. is a company based in Spain with commercial offices in Denmark and Mexico, which designs, develops, and manufactures reliable video contribution and distribution solutions for highly demanding Broadcast & Telecom environments. www.sapec.es / sales@sapec.es 

Madrid, Mexico City, Copenhagen – October 15th, 2020

MRD7000: Professional Multiformat Decoder/Receiver

Upon the significant increasing demand of the 4K TV Services, SENCORE, American company officially represented by SAPEC in Spain and Mexico, has presented to the market the MRD7000. A professional multiformat platform for contribution and primary distribution applications with support for UHD (HRD & WCG).

Due to its software defined architecture, MRD7000 is a solution that offers maximum flexibility to Broadcasters, cable operators and service providers. At the same time, offering the market trusted reliability typical of SENCORE solutions.

Versatility

MRD7000 can decode 4x 3G-HD-SDI signals or 1x UHD (4K) signal, supporting HDR (High Dynamic Range), which provides a higher detail in colour degree and brightest and WCG (Wide Colour Gamut) that guarantees the reliable reproduction of images with great colour contrast.

MRD 7000 can decode up to 16 audio channels in MPEG-1/2, AAC, Dolby AC3 & AC3 & Dolby E or Dolby ATMOS. In terms of descrambling BISS1/E & BISS CA are supported. There is also a Genlock input available to ensure synchronisation.

Future proof



The solution also supports SMPTE 2110 or SMPTE 2022-6 output allowing uncompressed transmission over IP using 10Gb or 25Gb SFPs.

Local Support

Madrid, Mexico DF, August 23rd, 2020

TIGO continues relying on SAPEC’s H.264 & HEVC solutions

TIGO, one of the largest service providers in Latin America, continues relying on SAPEC’ s technology for its HD video contribution services in Bolivia.

With different SAPEC solutions over the years, TIGO provides this video service to most of the Broadcasters to communicate their headquarters between the main cities of the Andean country and thus ensure a highly reliable transmission in H.264, as well as the update to HEVC when required by a simple software update of the equipment.

HD support for both H.264 and HEVC is supported in different SAPEC solutions:

GREDOS HEVC / H.264 / MPEG-2 HD/SD solution for satellite contributions.

AVANTOS: HEVC / H.264 / MPEG-2 HD/SD single-channel solution for contributions over IP/ASI.

LAGUNA: HEVC / H.264 / MPEG-2 HD/SD multi-channel solution for contributions over IP/ASI.

SAPEC and TIGO have been in close collaboration for more than 5 years with the acquisition of more than 50 pairs of SAPEC encoders/decoders of different models according to their customer needs. Evident proof of the reliability of these solutions and SAPEC’s philosophy with its clients to create long-term professional relationships.