Avanti Communications & Motion Picture Solutions sign digital cinema distribution deal

Network powered by Avanti’s HYLAS 1 & 2 satellites and delivered via MPS’s LANsat [1]

Avanti Communications, a leading provider of satellite data communications services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, has signed a multi-year cinema distribution contract with Motion Picture Solutions (MPS), an international film services company, based in London. Powered by Avanti’s HYLAS 1 and HYLAS 2 satellites and delivered through MPS’s LANsat technology, the partnership expands MPS’s bandwidth available for multicast feature film distribution to its cinema chain customer base.[2]

The addition of Avanti’s Ka-band network guarantees superfast delivery speeds to cinemas regardless of their geographic location, and also addresses challenges surrounding digital delivery to certain cinema sites that can’t depend solely on a high-quality broadband connectivity.

Many cinemas currently rely on either physical transportation of movie files by courier, or, where available, transmission over terrestrial connectivity. Through this partnership, Avanti’s technology has integrated seamlessly with MPS’s LANsat receiver service, ensuring quality, reliability and security of files at all times. MPS has started the deployment to UK cinemas in its growing network this month, before rollout to other locations in Europe.

Avanti’s network is allowing us to reach our cinema partners with a truly innovative distribution method. Its leading Ka-band satellite technology has integrated seamlessly with our LANsat service. Such revolutionary technology and multicast solutions guarantee security and quality. This, coupled with our strong IP fibre network, is a huge step forward in providing our clients in film distribution and exhibition with a dynamic mix of solutions for both digital cinema and live event delivery.”

Howard Kiedaisch, CEO at MPS

Avanti’s technology has revolutionised the delivery of secure content for the cinema industry. It represents the fastest way to deliver film content, with the highest security and pioneering levels of flexibility. We are pleased to help MPS to lead the industry through a contract to deliver pan-European services.”

David Williams, Chief Executive of Avanti Communications

References

• [1] LANsat is MPS’s receiver for electronic distribution of DCP packages which offers guaranteed delivery and active monitoring of sent files coupled with free automated key delivery and management to exhibitors direct to their theatre management system (TMS). The LANsat system allows playback for live events over satellite and the internet library management and 18TB of storage, giving cinemas the facility to store up to 80 features on one device.

• [2] The technology used in this contract was first developed by Avanti in a project funded by the European Space Agency ARTES programme