Technical means for distributing digital TV and radio programmes and filmmaking outputs over communications and broadcast satellites operated by the Space communications company
S.B. Poresh (Chief of the Development department, RSCC)
The Federal governmental unitary enterprise (FGUP), "Space Communications" (RSCC), is the national satellite communications operator that executes the economic management of the Russian fleet of 10 communications and broadcast satellites placed on geostationary orbit positions 14°W to 145°E ensuring global coverage. The RSCC materializes the Plan for updating the Russian satellite fleet. In 2000-2002, five communications and broadcast satellites were successfully launched including three up-to-day spacecrafts of the Express-A series. Prior to 2005, the RSCC satellite fleet will be increased by five the latest Express-АМ satellites which are being constructed in co-operation with leading foreign companies.
The RCSS communications and broadcast satellites are designed for TV and radio broadcasting, providing telephony services, data transmission, the Internet access, and rendering of multiple services as a package in the territories of the Russian Federation and most of the countries worldwide. The company has a longstanding experience of distributing all-Russian programmes over the receive network of about 10,000 downlinks. At present, the network is being converted into digital one; however, the multiplexing centre of the Shabolovka facility in Moscow already assembles the digital package of federal TV and radio programmes for distribution over the European Russia.
Updating the satellite fleet and making use of new digital technologies to multiplex and compress signals allows the RSCC to participate in a number of perspective projects in the field of TV and radio broadcasting and delivering filmmaking outputs.
One of these is the "People's Screen" project the concept of which has been approved by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry on communications and informatization of the Russia Federation. The project should create the most mass and profitable segment of the domestic film release. This task will be solved through the utilization of modern digital satellite technologies and establishment of ticket prices affordable to all sections of the population. Digital filmmaking outputs will be sent over a satellite from the distribution centre to cinemas in the whole territory of the Russia Federation. In each cinema hall of the chain, the individual satellite receiving system, connected to a digital projector, will be installed system of receiving a satellite signal.
