The GMN, with coverage in more than 70 locations across ten countries worldwide, is based on multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) networking technology that is used to supply secure converged video, sound and data internetworking. Its fully redundant architecture is expected to deliver optimal availability to television and production distributors and support the media industry’s transition from video tape to file transfer, enabling the transfer of large capacity files between servers.
Mark Wilson Dunn, global sales and marketing director, BT Media & Broadcast, said: “BT’s strategy is to extend our media services to wherever our clients need them and as such we have selected South Africa as a key market for our continuing network expansion plans. We are aggressively and successfully pursuing opportunities in the Middle East and Africa and are extremely well positioned to benefit both BT and its customers by managing the import and export of content on a reliable network infrastructure.”
BT Media & Broadcast has assembled and delivered the global, digital network and media applications and services for managing and distributing media content worldwide. This includes global workflow systems and professional services.
Brian Armstrong, vice president for Middle East and Africa at BT, said: “Growth in the local South African media market has significantly accelerated following the allocation of four new pay TV licenses. GMN’s South Africa extension will allow those licensees efficient access to the entire global ecosystem of content, and will facilitate alternative revenue models such as IPTV, Mobile TV and HD cost effectively. GMN’s high speed and global reach will also help the local post production market win more international contracts.”
