NTT SmartConnect and Media Links Conduct Connection Test for High-Quality Media Transmission Using IWAN

Media Links Co., Ltd. (HQ: Kawasaki, Kanagawa; President: Tsukasa Sugawara; TSE Standard: 6659) has conducted a connection test for media transmission using the high-capacity optical network 'IWAN (Interconnected WAN)' in collaboration with NTT SmartConnect Corporation (HQ: Osaka; President: Kento Miyaoku).

In this test, the company used its 'Xscend' IP gateway to verify VSF TR-07/08-compliant transmission based on the low-latency compression standard 'JPEG XS', as well as VSF TR-07-compliant transmission using the 'MDP3020' edge device. Furthermore, they tested conversion technology that integrates different IP standards and RTP Tunneling, a technology for efficiently sending and receiving multiple media data sets through a single communication path, confirming stable transmission of high-quality media signals over IWAN lines.

This enables the simultaneous realization of 'low-latency, high-quality material transmission' free from network congestion and traffic interference, along with the construction of advanced 'remote production environments' across sites. Both companies will promote practical solution proposals for broadcasters, production companies, and content providers.

Background and Context of Collaboration

In remote production for live sports and events, minimizing 'latency' and 'jitter' in video transmission is crucial to the quality of program production. Conventional shared networks often experience millisecond-level delays due to congestion and packet processing, which can lead to discrepancies in operational feel at production sites. Additionally, when transmitting multiple media signals—such as video, audio, and control signals—between sites, the complexity of network settings and the increased burden of operational management have been significant hurdles.

Since their business partnership in February 2024, Media Links and NTT SmartConnect have been studying the construction of a robust and flexible transmission environment that addresses these challenges in both 'transmission quality' and 'operational efficiency'.

Future Plans

Following these results, the companies will accelerate proposals for highly reliable, bandwidth-guaranteed material transmission solutions using IWAN for broadcasters, production companies, and content providers. In the future, they aim to pursue stable transmission of multi-system media signals and large-capacity data, and look toward building more advanced video production infrastructure with an eye on utilizing the next-generation network 'IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network)'. Furthermore, to meet a wide range of production needs, they will consider expanding lower-priced services that maintain high reliability, thereby contributing to the further development of the media industry.