Eutelsat has selected the R&S®PKU100-I amplifier to upgrade its teleports worldwide. Eutelsat provides connectivity and broadcast services worldwide for broadcast and media enterprises as well as for businesses and governments. Today, Eutelsat’s video services support the broadcast of over 6,400 television channels. To meet the demands of its clients, the company delivers highly reliable uplink services that ensure uninterrupted operation.
The R&S®PKU100 is an advanced solid-state satellite uplink amplifier, engineered with cutting-edge hardware and integrated intelligent software to provide exceptional resilience with operational efficiency. It is available in 400 W and 750 W variants, and in rackmount and weatherproof outdoor housings. To maximize signal quality, the R&S®PKU100 is the first satellite uplink amplifier to provide adaptive digital linearization. This also gives the amplifier unprecedented levels of efficiency, reducing power consumption by 50% over a typical tube-based equivalent. PKU100 solid state amplifiers can last in operation for 10 to 15 years, which is double the typical longevity of a Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier (TWTA), significantly reducing the long-term investment for Teleport operators.
The solid-state architecture ensures high internal resilience, allowing the uplink to continue to operate on reduced power in the event of a problem, rather than failing completely. Being solid-state, a backup amplifier can be powered up and online in moments from cold standby, eliminating the wasted energy consumption when there is a need for hot standby of inefficient tube amplifiers. “In refreshing our teleports, we were looking for an amplifier that could slot straight into our existing architecture, while minimizing risk throughout the lifecycle of the device,” said Michaël Girard, Ground Segment Project Manager at Eutelsat. “Rohde & Schwarz has been a trusted partner for many years through its test and measurement equipment, and it was able to demonstrate class-leading resilience and energy efficiency, coupled with the level of support we know we get from the company.”
Steven Edwards, Vice President Broadcast Distribution Systems at Rohde & Schwarz added “The key issue for any teleport operator – beyond of course high signal quality and efficient operation – is a resilient and flexible ground infrastructure. The R&S®PKU100, with its modern solid-state design, is inherently extremely resilient, enhanced with unique features like self-protection and self-monitoring, which enables reliable and effortless operation while minimizing operational costs.” The project involves the delivery of a significant number of R&S®PKU100 satellite uplink amplifiers to Eutelsat teleports, with the upgrade project scheduled for completion in the next three years.
Click here to learn more about SATCOM Amplifiers featured on SATNow
