Tata Communications innovates in F1

For regulars of the paddock, a huge grey tent is located near the teams’ motorhomes. Written prominently on it is the name of the company. It gathers all the technicians from Tata Communications who handle connectivity on behalf of the FOM.

This new technology could allow for the complete removal of this heavy structure since the cameras are then directly connected to the Biggin Hill center through the fiber optic cable network that Tata Communications has implemented worldwide. This would represent obvious economies of scale since only the cameramen would need to travel, while the current structure requires three days of setup before each Grand Prix.

Singapore is a hub of innovation for the FOM partner since, last year, they also tested another new technology, as explained by Mehul Kapadia, head of F1 within the IT services company: « Last year, we were able to demonstrate our broadcasting skills by transmitting a live stream in JPEG 2000 from this same Singapore event. »

For the uninitiated, this image compression standard allows for compressing images without reducing their quality. The big advantage is that the distribution of these images requires less bandwidth, which consequently reduces the load on Tata Communications’ network.

The advantage of this year’s innovation is that it allows for the demonstration of its feasibility at an event with high media exposure. This can encourage other events to adopt it, which can only benefit Tata Communications’ business activity: « This year, we have taken a huge step with the next generation of broadcasting with the first live 4K stream transmission during a Formula 1 race. It’s a new milestone in our journey with Formula One Management and demonstrates the real potential of sports broadcasting on our Video Connect Network as well as the quality and speed at which it can be delivered. »

With the participation of www.Racingbusiness.fr