Globecomm Systems Inc. announced that it has signed an agreement with SES AMERICOM to provide design and integration services in support of its new state-of-the-art MPEG-4 Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) based broadcast center. SES AMERICOM, the largest satellite services provider in the U.S., is today launching its IP PRIME service, a groundbreaking, centralized IPTV distribution solution enabling telephone companies to deliver high-end video, along with voice and broadband services over a single DSL line to the home.

IPTV allows television and/or video signals to be distributed using a broadband connection over Internet Protocol (IP). Often this is in parallel with the subscriber's Internet connection, supplied by a broadband operator using the same infrastructure but over a dedicated bandwidth allocation. MPEG-4 advanced video compression allows carriers to compress video down into much narrower streams, without sacrificing quality of video, enabling them to offer more program channel service to more TV's per household. This allows end-user service providers to integrate the digital video with their other services including IP based voice and broadband Internet services, commonly referred to as "Triple-Play".

Globecomm will provide a professional engineering study for the upfront design based on its experience in digital video platforms. The design will include integrating state-of-the-art video compression, program acquisition, routing, confidence monitoring with multi-channel presentation wall, and IPTV console workstation systems. Pursuant to the contract, Globecomm will be the overall system integrator and provide, on a turnkey basis, major components of the IPTV Broadcast Center which is comprised of an RF acqusition system that downlinks and receives United States based satellite video broadcasts, a program acquisition baseband system that decodes the video programming, an MPEG-4 compression system that processes the digital video/audio for distribution to the user by satellite and/or fiber and the satellite uplink that transmits the pre-packaged digital video to a broadcast satellite.

David Hershberg, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Globecomm Systems Inc., said, "SES AMERICOM's IPTV Broadcast Center and innovative IP PRIME solution represent a significant milestone in the delivery of broadband television to homes across America. New compression standards will drive the transformation and allow Telco's and satellite operators to deliver the "triple-play". Globecomm will provide a professional engineering study along with the initial design work, showcasing our engineering talent in the area of digital video platforms. As we initiate support of SES AMERICOM's exciting IP PRIME service, Globecomm becomes one of the first companies to participate in the design and delivery of an all IP-based MPEG-4, satellite-based IPTV video distribution facility. The trend towards video over IP will continue and result in more capital build out and ultimately position Globecomm in yet another high growth market."