BT delivers first element of ITV's MPLS system to Meridian

BT, one of the leading providers of IT and networking services, has trumpeted another broadcasting industry first; delivering an integrated broadcast video, voice and data Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) based news contribution network for Meridian, a regional broadcast company within ITV.
This is the first element in the implementation of ITV`s nationwide MPLS network, to be completed throughout the first half of 2005.
The new network will transport broadcast quality video, file transfer, voice, and IT traffic between ITV studios, providing far greater flexibility than the previous Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network.
This will allow ITV to respond much more quickly to changing business requirements and will enable further flexibility in news production capabilities. As soon as ITV migrates completely, the organisation will experience considerable cost savings and more effective network control, providing a single, fully managed digital distribution service for all video, audio, file transfer and IT traffic.
The MPLS network includes a switching and scheduling service designed specifically to meet the needs of ITV, both now and in the future. In this way, capacity can be reserved both at the video and file transfer level to meet the exact requirements of the broadcaster, tackling the complex problems often associated with bandwidth allocation and switching and scheduling.
The completion of the Meridian regional installation is a key milestone in the broader development of a nationwide MPLS network for ITV which, when complete, will provide an entirely new broadcast and data infrastructure.
ITV requested an early implementation of an MPLS network for Meridian as it was relocating from its existing waterfront site in Southampton to a new green field site in Whiteley as part of ITV`s commitment to improve regional news coverage.
(CD/SP)