BT upgrades its FacilityLine video exchange service using Nevion’s VideoIPath
New booking portal platform makes it easier and faster for BT customers to share video feeds
Nevion, a Sony Group Company and award-winning provider of virtualized media production solutions, announced today BT Media and Broadcast has implemented VideoIPath orchestration and SDN control software to upgrade the control of its central video exchange service, FacilityLine.
FacilityLine is a high-capacity, multi-format, live video exchange service that enables BT Wholesale customers to share SD, HD and UHD/4K, rapidly and securely, with hundreds of media organizations within the UK as part of the largest media community in Europe. For BT to continue with its journey towards SDN networking, automation and IP infrastructure, it required an upgrade to the control of the exchange.
BT Media and Broadcast selected Nevion VideoIPath having previously successfully implemented the software in other major high-profile deployments, including UK-wide contribution networks. In this project, VideoIPath controls two very large SDI switches, linked via tie-lines, and connecting around 1,500 sources with 2,000 destinations. Over the next twelve months, more than 250,000 bookings are anticipated to take place between the sources and destinations of the FacilityLine Community.
With close design and project collaboration between all parties involved, the system was successfully delivered in under 2½ months and went live in January 2021.
Faisal Mahomed, Director of Media and Broadcast, BT Wholesale said: “This new capability offers a significantly improved and user-friendly interface for our customers, simplifying the process of scheduling connections. In addition, the solution also gives us the flexibility we need to offer integrated software-led and user-focused solutions. We’re excited about the immediate benefits we have seen already and look forward to start leveraging some of the additional features offered by VideoIPath.”
As VideoIPath is intuitive to operate, BT can simplify the booking process, allowing customers to directly manage more of their own connections dynamically, further enhancing the organization capabilities. The migration also enabled BT to reduce infrastructure, lower power usage and decrease their overall carbon footprint, moving BT closer to their carbon zero commitment. BT and its customers can also benefit from VideoIPath’s regular software upgrades and additional features in a highly competitive industry. Furthermore, with VideoIPath, BT is able to futureproof its service delivery. For example, it could move the infrastructure to IP should it want or need to.
Hans Hasselbach, Chief Commercial Officer at Nevion concluded: “BT Media and Broadcast and Nevion have been partners for many years, deploying together some major media network solutions for leading broadcasters in the UK and abroad. We were delighted that BT picked VideoIPath again, and that we were able to deliver in a very short time scale a solution that brings immediate benefits to BT and its customers.”
About BT Media and Broadcast
For more information about BT Media and Broadcast, please see here: BT Media and Broadcast.
Press release (PDF)
