Page 63 - SAMENA Trends - September 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Oman’s Ministry of Information Implements Extensive Upgrade with UBMS

and EVS

Oman’s Ministry of Information has caused by the pandemic, which led to Composer, alongside the implementation
taken significant strides to modernize delays in delivering essential infrastructure of Media Central and new client PCs. EVS
its broadcasting capabilities, embracing components such as network switches, MediaCeption Signature is integrated with
technological advancement to enhance Dell servers and client PCs. Parwaiz Anjum, the existing Tedial MAM system at the site
its media infrastructure. In collaboration a consultant with UBMS, led the charge to achieve the Archive and Restore workflow
with Dubai systems integrator United in upgrading and replacing the Avid PAM and send clips from the PAM to the current
Broadcast and Media Solutions (UBMS), and iNews NRCS systems. The project’s playout system. The project’s foundation
the ministry has embarked on an ambitious scope extended to expanding the central lay in the modernization of server, network
project to upgrade its Avid production asset apparatus area (CTA) and introducing and hyper-converged infrastructure. Anjum
management (PAM) and iNews newsroom EVS’ new MediaCeption Signature, a and the SI team oversaw the installation
computer system (NRCS) at two of its sites complete end-to-end live production asset of the latest generation of XS-VIA servers
in Muscat and Salalah. After a rigorous management (PAM) solution to replace for the EVS PAM and Avid iNews systems.
and critical evaluation process that began the existing Avid solution. Additionally, A notable enhancement was the upgrade
with an RFP in 2017 and only ended early Adobe Premier edits were adopted in place of the PAM Network backbone to 100G
last year, the project was completed in July of Avid Media Composer, alongside the and the edge network to 10G. The
2023. Although the project deployment itself implementation of Media Central and new collaboration between Adobe NLEs and
took only eight months, it was not without client PCs. Additionally, Adobe Premier XS-VIA servers was fortified by a dual 10G
its challenges owing to the disruptions edits were adopted in place of Avid Media network, significantly improving system
performance. An important technical
highlight is the new virtual environment,
which gives flexibility to add VM instances
when required. “VMware vSphere powers
the system to virtualize the servers and
host multiple virtual machines. While
this reduces the rack space and power
consumption, it increases the flexibility
for the system administrator and gives
scalability for future expansion,” explains
Anjum. One major reason for the upgrade
was that the existing PAM and NRCS,
installed back in 2012, had reached the
end of their life. “The legacy system had
multiple hardware failures and was no
longer supported, so the client decided
to replace it with a brand-new solution
that offers better workflow and support,”
explains Anjum, adding that the team stuck
with DNxHD 120, the ministry’s house
format.

Supreme Court Rejects Plans to Upgrade ClaroVTR 3.5GHz Rights

Chile’s Supreme Court has rejected plans the Department of Telecommunications Competencia, TDLC), Subtel granted
to allow ClaroVTR to use its 3.5GHz band (Subsecretaria de Telecomunicaciones, provisional approval to the telco earlier
spectrum for 5G services on the basis Subtel) to use airwaves previously assigned this year, but the decision was challenged
that the frequencies must be assigned for fixed wireless voice services for 5G. by rival operator WOM, culminating in the
through a public tender, La Tercera reports. Following a consultation with the Antitrust recent ruling from the apex court.
ClaroVTR had sought permission from Tribunal (Tribunal de Defensa de la Libre

63 SEPTEMBER 2023