❝ C-band is still the preferred choice for distribution and contribution feeds to cable headends and in some instances , directto-home ( DTH ) operations .❞
MEETING DEMANDS FOR PERSONALISED CONTENT
Singtel Satellite ready to support hybrid broadcast
2016 was an award-winning year for Singtel Satellite .
APB asks Tan Tian Seng , Director of Product and Marketing from Singtel Satellite , the key behind the company ’ s success , and how he views issues such as HTS .
2016 saw Singtel named as the Satellite Operator of the Year at the Asia Communications Awards 2016 ; it also garnered the VSAT Service Provider of the Year 2016 award . In the face of increasing competition , what are the key factors that are keeping Singtel as one of the leading satellite service providers in Asia ? Tan Tian Seng : We have the privilege of having a strong telco parentage with the capability of integrating terrestrial and satellite networks to provide end-to-end solutions , in addition to value-added services such as cloud and cyber security solutions to achieve the competitive edge .
Customer service is absolutely the most important part in any business . At Singtel Satellite , listening to our customers and offering excellent customer service is the mantra we live by . Every issue raised by customers is treated with care and handled properly .
Having streamlined our fault management processes with the use of integrated FRMS ( Fault Reporting Management System ), customers can be assured that our extended service team , made up of customer service officers and technical officers , share the same system with full visibility of all tickets raised by customers .
This enables faster , better coordinated and more consistent responses to customers ’ queries , which helps to speed up incident resolution .
We constantly upgrade our infrastructure as we understand that enterprises undertake different business initiatives in their quest for superior business outcomes . Enterprises need an experienced provider to deliver superior service experience . We also understand that businesses today need innovative , customised solutions that drive productivity and enhance operational efficiencies . Being a satellite ICT service provider , besides providing reliable satellite connectivity , our value-added services have been well received by customers . For example , shipping companies experiencing costly communication at sea and finding it difficult to manage due to lack of IT expertise on board can look to Singtel AIO ( All-In- One ) Smartbox and mobile app to address their issues .
Singtel All-In-One (“ AIO ”) SmartBox is a centralised management box installed on board vessels for remote monitoring and control . Singtel Mobile App provides fast and easy access to contact list and multimedia messaging ; and importantly , it overcomes the challenge of high communication costs .
For enterprises facing increasingly complex and persistent cyber-security threats , the need to have cyber-security protection is critical as disruptions from hacking and viruses via satellite transmission can have potentially
Broadcasters will be looking for satellite operators who are able to offer satellite and fibre connectivity at the same time . damaging effect to companies . The acquisition of US-based Trustwave , a leading specialist in managed security services , has strengthened our global cybersecurity capabilities in North America and Asia-Pacific .
Enterprises will benefit from Trustwave ’ s three main areas of services — threat intelligence , vulnerability management and compliance management , which are delivered through the unified cloud-based Trustkeeper platform , helping enterprises to protect their IT infrastructure , applications and networks .
How do you see Asia ’ s HTS market developing in 2017 , and will this diminish the importance of C-band satellite in the region ? Tan : We see that high throughput satellites ( HTS ) will increasingly play a pivotal role in growth across Asia . HTS is a technology that can be applied to Ku- , Ka- or C- band to maximise the spectrum reuse , and to increase the satellite throughput .
While there are certainly plans by various satellite operators for HTS in Asia in the coming year , we foresee that the take-up will be slow .
Widebeam C-band is still very popular in in Asia . It allows for wide area coverage and is extremely resilient to severe weather conditions such as heavy rain . C-band is still the preferred choice for distribution and contribution feeds to cable head-ends and in some instances , direct-to-home ( DTH ) operations .
Hence , while HTS is expected to grow in importance in the coming year , especially in the data segment , widebeam C-band is expected to continue to play an
❝ C-band is still the preferred choice for distribution and contribution feeds to cable headends and in some instances , directto-home ( DTH ) operations .❞
— Tan Tian Seng , Director of Product and
Marketing , Singtel Satellite
important role in the broadcast segment .
What do you think will be the buzz word for the satellite broadcast industry in 2017 , or will any specific technology take centre stage ? Tan : The broadcast industry has now transformed into “ anytime , anywhere and any device ” availability of content for consumers .
For such an era to happen “ fast and furious ”, there is a need to expand Internet connectivity and for broadband infrastructure to be readily available .
Hence , the buzz word for the broadcast industry will be “ hybrid ”. Broadcasters will be looking for satellite operators who are able to offer satellite and fibre connectivity at the same time . It will change the way how content is being consumed and distributed to meet the exponential demands of viewers .
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