iDirect’s Auriga network has leveraged its satellite communications platform to expand its IP broadcasting service to newscasters in the Middle East, iDirect announced Sept. 11.
    The iDirect network is designed to transmit live news over an IP satellite system and aims to reduce the cost of transporting video from local bureaus to network studios. In addition to live broadcasts, Auriga will support IP satellite news-gathering, integrated data, voice and video communications and rapid-deployment disaster recovery networks.
    Based on iDirect’s time division multiple access shared bandwidth system, space segment can be allocated across multiple locations in the Middle East, the company said.
    News captured in the field and sent over The Auriga Network is translated to video in real time to facilitate live broadcasts. Based on standard IP payload efficiencies, iDirect said the network could support an average traffic increase of 400 percent over conventional video broadcasting.