Media Link, VIDI Provide IP Technology Services for Russia’s Largest Integrated Media Network

Media Links and its systems integrator, VIDI GmbH, combined hardware, software, and professional services offering were selected by Russian service provider Rostelecom for the state broadcaster’s nationwide media network upgrade.

“It was a real challenge to provide such an update on a running system without interrupting the service or the connectivity of the studios,” says Karsten Winterberg CTO of VIDI GmbH. “Covering the whole network management over 7 time-zones, with several network operation centers using Cyrillic Script for Alias-Names, locations and labeling on the user interface was another challenge, especially in the middle of the global pandemic.”

The network spans over 7000 km and 7 time zones across Russian territories and connects nearly 43 regional and local studios with headquarters in Moscow.

In the most recent project phase, the 43 studios were upgraded to incorporate redundant, standards-compliant MDP3020 IP media gateways, providing connectivity for multi-format video/audio signal transport as well as simultaneous data and control signal transfers. The network management software was also recently upgraded to the latest version, supporting a variety of new features.

“RTС is using Media Links hardware, supported by the service and the experience of VIDI for years now,” says Rostelecom representative Yaroslav Khodokovskiy. “The VIDI NMS is well known at the customer and highly rated because of the unique combination of flexibility, reliability and the possibility to integrate the special needs of this network into the software. For us, there was no other choice than going also for the next stage of expansion of this project with VIDI and Media Links.

VIDI, based in Darmstadt, Germany and its Russian subsidiary VIDI Integration OOO provided support during the planning phase, including the hardware, pre-configuration, testing, and remote support during the entire installation.

“We are honored that Rostelecom have selected our Media over IP platform to transport their media content across such an extensive network,” commented Al Nuñez, President of Media. “Media Links IP solutions are best known for their proven, trusted performance and reliability in the most demanding applications. Along with the complementary skills and capabilities of our close partner VIDI based in both Germany and Russia, together we provide a unique and compelling value proposition for RTC.”