Bonded Cellular Systems in Modern Broadcasting

Bonded cellular systems are fundamentals in video content and live broadcasting that are important for broadcasters.

It is these systems that allow the delivery of breaking news, live event coverage, and engaging stories from virtually any location. They provide low costs and easy deployment, going beyond other connectivity solutions that happen to be limited to niche uses.

But despite the multiple advantages – interoperability is a major challenge.

 

Proprietary Protocols and Interoperability Issues

Bonded cellular systems have developed into isolated networks with proprietary protocols. This is unlike other modern content exchange systems that focus on open integration through containers and APIs.

This lack of multi-vendor interoperability gives rise to obstacles for broadcasters, and reduces their content exchange options and flexibility in operations.

Freelance camera operators may also face market limitations because of their choice of bonded cellular systems, which can exclude potential clients. Plus, a partial system failure can disrupt the whole network.

Efforts to standardise live broadcasting solutions have had the aim to improve interoperability and create a more open working environment.

But these efforts usually are faced with resistance from vendors who think of proprietary systems as commercially advantageous.

Standardisation committees are intended to stress more uniformity, but they end up slowing innovation.

 

Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) Protocol

Last few years, the Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) protocol has become more popular for distributing and exchanging content over IP networks.

SRT provides secure connectivity with AES data encryption and makes sure there are reliable connections through forward error correction (FEC) and data retransmission.

These features allow low-latency video data transmission over IP links, including the public internet.

Many bonded cellular vendors have recognised SRT's potential and added it to their platforms.

This lets them take in SRT streams with traditional bonded streams and export SRT streams to third-party networks.

 

Using Bonded Cellular Systems with SRT

Using the SRT protocol lets the bonded cellular systems work better together.

While the initial connections still use their own protocols, SRT handles everything once the content is in the cloud.

This method gets rid of compatibility problems and the limitations of separate systems.

All streams, no matter where they may come from, can be managed with just a single tool – whether bringing in SRT streams from other devices (upstream) or sending content down to the management platform (downstream).

 

- Such a unified workflow improves production team performance.

- Live content can be sourced from a broader range of providers, and camera crews get flexibility in using any brand of bonded cellular transmitter.

- Vendor lock-in becomes dated, so the broadcasting industry can fully make the most of bonded cellular systems' potential.

 

Vislink's Implementation of SRT

Vislink has connected SRT into its product portfolio. This provides operational benefits across various applications.

Vislink uses SRT to advance workflows from free-roaming camera systems to live event contributions and network distribution solutions.

With SRT, it's possible for production teams to easily add wireless camera systems into remote setups. Vislink uses SRT connectivity to separate RF receive infrastructure for free-roaming cameras from video recording at the broadcast centre.

This reduces on-site personnel requirements and shoots up cost-effective IP connectivity.

Bonded cellular systems are becoming more compatible with the help of SRT. This change improves content sharing and broadcasting and removes industry speed bumps.

With the rise of open standards, broadcasters can now work more flexibly and expertly, reaching a broader audience with their content.

 

About Vislink

With over 50 years in the industry, Vislink provides advanced communication solutions for reliable and secure data transmission for critical operations worldwide.

Vislink's consistent integration of SRT technology across its products improves low-latency video streaming over different IP networks, making connectivity better between different Vislink solutions.