Open Broadcast Systems - OBE 5G Flyaway
Category IP Broadcast Solutions
Launched in April 2024, the OBE 5G Flyaway from Open Broadcast Systems is the first cellular bonding solution built around the needs of sports broadcasters and linear channel backup. It brings professional broadcast encoding and interoperable video transport to the world of cellular bonding.
Built in collaboration with Zixi, OBE 5G Flyaway allows for sports broadcasters to reach fibre and satellite picture quality over cellular networks and deliver them as a standard constant bitrate MPEG transport streams. For the first time, broadcasters can maintain the highest standards when using cellular bonding for video transport. The OBE 5G Flyaway offers high quality encoding and video transport without any compromises, making broadcasting and content distribution much simpler and easier to manage for all factor of businesses.
When paired with OBE c-100/C-200 encoders, OBE 5G Flyaway allows for broadcasters to deliver high quality feeds that meet the rising levels of high consumer demand. This involves the distribution of 10-bit 4:2:2 video and numerous audio tracks, exactly the same way that is implemented over fibre and satellite. These feeds can then be delivered to existing IRDs via protocols such as Zixi and SRT without the need for vendor-specific equipment. In addition, satellite systems such as Starlink and OneWeb can be used to aid connectivity in remote regions.
The external weatherproof 5G directional routers can be placed up to 100m (300ft) away. This delivers connectivity for those sports broadcasters based in areas of poor connectivity, such as underneath a stadium, as well as allowing the use of distant cell towers, keeping traffic separate from spectators. This is all achieved using a single Ethernet cable, meaning existing cabling can be repurposed without any reduction in signal quality. The OBE 5G Flyaway is available in a small form factor that can fit in an aircraft cabin.
The OBE 5G Flyaway enables:
• High Quality 10-bit 4:2:2, 16-channel audio with feeds remaining in sync throughout
• Closed Captions, Teletext and SCTE Passthrough for linear channels
• Strict CBR MPEG-Transport Stream for maximum interoperability with third-party receivers (including direct uplink to satellite)
• Output in standard protocols such as RTP, SRT or Zixi
• Ability to bond any form of Internet connection, including Starlink and OneWeb LEO
• Powerful external antennas allow reaching distant cell towers for maximum performance up to 100m (300ft) away from encoder with a single cable
• Seamless failover from fibre to cellular and LEO and back to fibre
Alongside this, feeds from 5G Flyaway can be shared easily with sports-rights holders and other clientele in contrast with existing cellular bonding equipment which require re-encode to meet broadcast standards, as a result adding latency and reducing quality. OBE 5G Flyaway is optionally available with Worldwide pay-as-you-go data plans, allowing travel anywhere in the world without the need for complicated tariffs and SIM cards changes.
The team at Open Broadcast Systems has developed OBE 5G Flyaway as a result of years of work with several sports broadcasters to build a 5G bonding solution that incorporates their needs. Sports broadcasters are constantly faced with demands and challenges, especially with the presence of existing newsgathering-focused solutions. OBE 5G Flyaway is currently in use for weekly sports transmissions as a replacement to satellite and fibre, trusted by many across the world. Not only this, but OBE 5G Flyaway can be used as a failover backup mechanism for linear channel delivery with critical features such as closed captions, SCTE-35 and teletext all available as normal. OBE 5G Flyaway allows for broadcasters and content providers to thrive where diverse fibre connections are difficult to obtain, providing a cost-effective alternative to satellite reducing channel downtime.
OBE 5G Flyaway is a new and innovative solution which allows for a new era of content distribution in high demand sports broadcasting, offering a plethora of benefits and possibilities to companies and consumers alike.
