New gateway for streaming media is designed to enable service providers take advantage of digital video capabilities over IP and ATM networks.

by Wayne Kawamoto [May 21, 2001]

Optibase recently unveiled its new MGW 3100. According to the company, the MGW 3100 bridges the gap between digital video and high-speed data networks, and creates new opportunities for service providers by enabling them to take advantage of high-bandwidth data networks to deliver video and TV services. It may also enable broadcasters to deliver real-time broadcast TV from remote sites at a fraction of the cost of satellite transmission.

MGW 3100 is a video-over-IP rack-mount system that is designed to serve as a media gateway between DVB and IP/ATM networks. The MGW 3100 is designed for applications such as backhaul video over IP and ATM networks, or bridging DVB and IP interfaces at headend installations. For IP headends, MGW 3100 is designed to provide re-distributions of a received MPEG-2 DVB stream onto IP based networks.

Optibase says that its MGW 3100 receives MPEG-2 DVB-ASI streams (SPTS or MPTS), encapsulates the MPEG-2 (SPTS or MPTS) in IP (IPoA optional) using the RTP standard, and transmits them over the network.

At the receiving end, an MGW 3100 system receives the MPEG-2 /IP stream, extracts it, and plays back a DVB-ASI stream. Alternatively, an IP based set-top-box may be able to receive and play back the stream. By combining RTP transmission, Diffserv QoS support, and error correction, MGW 3100 should ensure efficient and reliable transmission over IP networks.

MGW 3100's Remote Session Manager is designed to allow users to control unicast and multicast transmissions from one MGW 3100 system to single or multiple MGW 3100 receiving systems. Optibase claims that its Remote Session Manager can communicate with one transmitter and up to 20 receivers simultaneously and allows configuration, operation and on-going monitoring of the transmission.

Pricing and availability
The MGW 3100 is available now and pricing is available from the company upon request.

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