This article is dedicated to doctors and IT departments in hospitals who often ask us “is Internet transmission reliable and secure?”, and “how is it suitable for the medical environment?”. Every situation is unique and we work hand in hand with you to develop your own solution. Here are some common beliefs to help you make the right choice for your live transmission.

1- What is the difference between satellite and Internet broadcasting?

Costs, delay and logistics !
For a satellite broadcasting you’ll need to run a cable between the operating room and a truck parked outside. You’ll need to have a clear view of the sky and the transmission may cause echo. You’ll also need to reserve slots for broadcasting via satellite and the cost is usually calculated per minute.

Internet broadcasting: The webcast is managed by a codec, which handles audio and video feedback and prevents any echo. To use the  codec all you will need is a network connection. What’s great about this option is that there is no delay between questions and answers. If the Internet connection is active then there is no concept of time. It is therefore possible to make several breaks during an event to broadcast longer interventions. In the schedule delay setting, the absence of slots provides greater flexibility. The cost of Internet distribution is also more competitive because you’re using a lightweight option.

2- Why does an Internet transmission offer better interactivity than satellite?

It is difficult to talk to a doctor if he needs two seconds to hear the question… Satellite broadcasting involves transporting signals from the hospital to the satellite (36.000 kms) and then the satellite to the conference: the distance between the earth and the satellite being the reason for the delay. Internet transmission is not affected by this delay however because the latency problem observed is limited to less than 700 milliseconds (the human brain does not account for latency under one second).

3- Is a high-speed Internet connection required?

No, encoders are becoming more efficient and reduce the required bandwidth. Today 5Mb / second are enough to do a live HD transmission. The development of mobile data networks also allows us to branch out and use 3G or 4G connections.

4- Transmission is impossible from my health center, what can we do?

Discussions with IT departments often begin with a “no”, but if your requests are anticipated and if network security is not endangered, then there is no reason why the IT department should refuse. We have positive experiences on N3 networks in England, France and APHP in various hospitals and clinics around the world.

5- Is there any difference in quality?

Satellite offers a certain level of quality for television, but the quality also depends on the production capabilities in the operating room. There may be a slight difference for video professionals, but most people do not notice significant differences. We have many high references of recordings made at the reception of events.

6- And what if I really want to use satellite?

No problem! We support transmission via the Internet but we can also provide satellite broadcasts: we have many references in North Africa, India and more recently with the TCT of San Francisco.