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SAT>IP Protocol
.Commercial History and Current Status Introduction SAT>IP (pronounced “Sat to IP”) is an open communication protocol that converts satellite TV signals (DVB-S/S2) into IP streams for distribution over home networks. Launched in 2012 by satellite operator SES in collaboration with UK broadcaster BSkyB and Danish software firm Craftwork, SAT>IP aimed to bring multi-screen satellite TV to tablets, smartphones, PCs, and smart TVs without needing an internet connection.
Instead of running multiple coaxial cables to every TV, a single SAT>IP server could demodulate and stream channels over Ethernet, Wi-Fi or powerline to many IP-based client devices. The protocol was offered license-free and manufacturer-neutral to encourage broad adoption as an industry standard.
Early expectations were high. SES touted SAT>IP as a “quantum leap for the industry,” predicting millions of consumers could enjoy satellite TV on any screen with “unrivalled flexibility”. Trade press in 2012 echoed optimism, suggesting SAT>IP’s popularity was on the near horizon.
Over the next few years, numerous hardware vendors and TV manufacturers embraced the technology. However, a decade later, SAT>IP has seen its momentum fade. Below is a comprehensive look at who launched SAT>IP, how it grew, and why it has largely been phased out, along with the current state of the protocol and its replacements.
.Timeline of Key SAT>IP Milestones
April 2012: SES unveils SAT>IP at its Industry Days conference, demonstrating live satellite TV distributed over IP (Ethernet, Wi-Fi, powerline) to multiple devices. SES declares SAT>IP an open standard for in-home satellite distribution, open to all manufacturers.
.Late 2012: First SAT>IP products released. Luxembourg-based Inverto Digital Labs launches the Multibox IDL400S – a four-tuner SAT>IP server, the first commercial SAT>IP. Taiwan’s Zinwell follows with the ZIM-1800 SAT>IP switch, certified by SES as the second compliant device.
.April 2013: IP-LNB prototype announced. SES, Inverto, Abilis, and MaxLinear unveil the world’s first “IP-LNB,” an eight-tuner LNB head that outputs IP streams directly from the dish. SES’s Thomas Wrede hails it as evidence of SAT>IP innovation, providing low-cost multi-room distribution by combining satellite reception and IP bridging at the antenna.
.April 2015: SAT>IP Alliance formed. Satellite operators SES and Hispasat join forces with manufacturers Panasonic, Nagra, ALi Corp., and MaxLinear to create the SAT>IP Alliance. Launched at NAB 2015, this non-profit industry coalition aims to promote and develop SAT>IP, certify devices, and evolve the standard. The alliance notes SAT>IP was by then a CENELEC European standard, EN 50585.
.Late 2015 – 2016: Expanded industry support. Eutelsat joins as the third satellite operator in the alliance. By 2016, over 45 companies had supported SAT>IP, producing 80+ compatible products ranging from servers to apps. TV makers like Panasonic (and Loewe) build SAT>IP client support into many smart TV models, enabling direct reception of SAT>IP streams.
.September 2017: Partnership with DVB. The alliance announces a collaboration with the DVB Project to incorporate SAT>IP into broader standard. Conditional-access firms Irdeto and Verimatrix had recently joined, and membership swells to include companies like Zinwell, Arcadyan, Humax, and Red Bee Media. SAT>IP is positioned as a key piece of the upcoming DVB Home Broadcast (DVB-HB) specification for in-home redistribution of broadcast TVbroadband
.April 2019: Push at NAB, usage claims. The SAT>IP Alliance (with members SES, Eutelsat, Hispasat, Panasonic, MaxLinear, Nagra, Irdeto, Verimatrix, etc.) showcases the technology at NAB 2019. It claims satellites covering “95% of the globe” support SAT>IP and that 40+ manufacturers have developed SAT>IP-based products. Alliance President Thomas Wrede urges satellite providers to adopt SAT>IP for next-gen multi-screen services to stay competitive
.February 2021: Alliance “on hold.” The SAT>IP Alliance announces it has paused activities, declaring the technology “well-established” and further development now folded into the new DVB Home Broadcast standard. The alliance’s spokesman confirms that future SAT>IP enhancements will occur under DVB, and the group has effectively fulfilled its mission. The official SAT>IP website (satip.info) remains online as a resource – though by mid-2024 it would quietly go offline
.2022–2025: Current status. No new major SAT>IP products or updates have been announced. The protocol is essentially dormant as a standalone initiative, with niche usage continuing on legacy hardware and open-source software. DVB’s Home Broadcast specification (published in 2021) now encompasses SAT>IP’s core idea – re-transmitting broadcast streams over home IP networks – as part of a broader standard for native IP broadcasting
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