WEGENER Teams With ViaSat To Support Video Multicasts Over VSAT Network
(February 27, 2008) – DULUTH, Georgia – Wegener Corporation (Nasdaq: WGNR), a leading provider of equipment for television, audio and data distribution networks worldwide, today announced the operation of live video broadcasts on a VSAT network from ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq:VSAT), showing compatibility of WEGENER’s video overlay solution for VSAT networks. VSAT networks provide bandwidth efficient solutions for distributing interactive IP data between thousands of data centers, retail locations, corporate LANS, schools, the Internet, and home offices. Using standard ViaSat LinkStar® uplink and downlink equipment WEGENER added live high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) video streams to a VSAT network traditionally used to transmit data files. Artifact-free video was successfully decoded by the WEGENER SMD 515 IPTV set top box.
“ViaSat’s innovative communication networks provide a great complement to WEGENER’s private network video products,” said Ned L. Mountain, President and COO of WEGENER. “We want to create more opportunities to present compelling branding, advertising and informational data to new environments by combining advanced video compression, VSAT architecture and file-based content delivery. VSAT networks are a new market for our enterprise video equipment.”
ViaSat VSAT products include hub-based IP data access systems for building enterprise or service provider networks, and mesh and hybrid architecture products for extending networks to locations not served by terrestrial alternatives.
For the initial configuration, continuous IP multicasts of MPEG-2 HD and SD video were fed through ViaSat’s uplink switch, QOS and modulator, before transmission over a Ku satellite link. At the receive end, the signal was processed by a ViaSat LinkStar terminal, and ultimately the WEGENER SMD 515 IPTV set top box decoded the video streams.
“We continue to explore bridge technologies that enable us to provide more applications on our networks,” said Mike Kreller, VP and general manager of ViaSat VSAT Networks. “The ability to support high-quality video is another advantage for our customers.”
ABOUT WEGENER
WEGENER® (Wegener Communications, Inc.), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wegener Corporation (Nasdaq: WGNR), is an international provider of digital solutions for video, audio, and IP data networks. Applications include IP data delivery, broadcast television, cable television, radio networks, business television, distance education, business music and financial information distribution. COMPEL®, WEGENER’s patented network control system, provides networks with unparalleled ability to regionalize programming and commercials. COMPEL® network control capability is integrated into WEGENER® digital satellite receivers. WEGENER® can be reached at +1.770.814.4000 or on the World Wide Web at www.wegener.com.
WEGENER, COMPEL, COMPEL CONTROL, iPUMP, MEDIAPLAN, UNITY, ASSURED FILE DELIVERY, PANDA, PROSWITCH, VIDATA, the stylized W-design logo (for WEGENER), the stylized C-design logo (for Compel) and the stylized PANDA design logo are all registered trademarks of WEGENER®. All Rights Reserved.
ABOUT VIASAT
ViaSat produces innovative satellite and other digital communication products that enable fast, secure, and efficient communications to any location. The company provides networking products and managed network services for enterprise IP applications; is a key supplier of network-centric military communications and encryption technologies to the U.S. government; and is the primary technology partner for gateway and customer-premises equipment for consumer and mobile satellite broadband services. The company owns five subsidiaries: US Monolithics, Efficient Channel Coding, Enerdyne Technologies, Intelligent Compression Technologies, and JAST. These companies design and produce complementary products such as monolithic microwave integrated circuits, DVB-S2 satellite communication components, video data link systems, data acceleration and compression products, and mobile satellite antenna systems. ViaSat has locations in Carlsbad, CA, and Duluth, GA, along with its Comsat Laboratories division in Germantown, MD. Additional field offices are located in Boston, MA, Baltimore, MD, Washington DC, Australia, China, India, Italy, and Spain.
