When you think of it, despite our having almost instantaneous communications, the world remains a huge place. On Earth as well as in space, the key to survival and success for humans has always been, and will remain, communications. From the oldest methods of fire and smoke messaging, to the telegraph lines strung across continents, to satellite fleets navigating above the Earth in geo-stationary orbits — the propagation of messages, communications, and missives has been the role of the all-important carriers, operators, and distributors.

The future of the teleport is evolving. No longer are teleports simply conduits through which content is moved from one place to another — rather, they are becoming Gateways. These Gateways are akin to value added routers or connectors. They insert smart additions to enhance the value of the content passing through them. They offer a plethora of new services to help clients to improve their services. As the world goes digital, add-ons and extra services offered by Gateways take on even further economic importance as they generate new revenue streams and add to their importance in the broadcast value chain.

The Middle East is considered by many to be the center of the world — this according to Christian, Judaic and Islam beliefs. These traditions accord Jerusalem the title of epicenter or Umbilicus Mundi (Latin: Navel of the World). Today, as we link the world together and create communications’ networks, the Middle East has retained its significance as a focal point in linking signals to and from Europe, Africa, and Asia.

With communications methods advancing, a smartly run teleport business operating to ensure and enhance communications holds a natural competitive advantage. For instance, as immigration grows and ethnic groups move from their original homes to new regions, there is an increasing need for the broadcast of channels into those regions, or for insertions into existing channels to reach these new audiences. The role of the teleport will only improve as broadcasters and advertisers seek to reach and embrace these consumers.

The experience of SatLink Communications in linking the world together supports this thesis. With an antenna forest of more than 80 antennas, the global satellite communications services provider has developed its geographically strategic located facilities in the Judean Hills outside of Jerusalem to offer services and platforms to channels, broadcasters, IP providers, satellite operators, governments, and others. Sitting atop a ridge in the Holy Land, overlooking both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, the company is a leading provider of tailor made transmission solutions for Global Content Distribution with advanced Gateway facilities and its own fiber networks to enhance the global presence of its clients’ brands as well as its own.

“SatLink’s model is to operate as a Gateway,” states SatLink CEO David Hochner. “We are not only moving communications, but also adding value to our customers whether satellite operators, channels, networks, or telecoms.”< br />
> Recognized as one of the Top 20 Independent Teleports by the World Teleport Association in 2009, the company provides access to a worldwide network covering five continents and supplies clients with flexible transmission solutions over multiple satellite platforms, fiber and IP. Its services include uplink, downlink and turn around, channel management, production, SNG & Flyaway, hub hosting, video monitoring, IPTV and Telemetry, Tracking, and Control (TT&C).

SatLink Communications offers full support for Irdeto, Viaccess encryption solutions, or for a broadcasters own encryption system. SatLink’s Gateway uplinks the signal to its full transponders for contribution to cable head-ends, re-broadcasters, and distribution for direct to home (DTH) viewers around the world.

Started in the early 90’s, Satlink’s business strategy and technical acumen has garnered acknowledgement from some of the world’s leading satellite operators and brands such as SES NewSkies, AsiaSat, and Hellas Sat, all of whom have designated the company as their official Middle East Port of choice for carrying content between Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

The company weaves together complementary ground services based upon top-level technologies with the creation of a space presence in the form of various MCPCs (Multiple Channels Per Carrier) platforms. By linking its ground station to leading satellites around the globe as well as a world-wide fiber network, the company is able to offer full service solutions, especially for HD and SD broadcasters, networks, operators and telecoms seeking to connect far-flung audiences or to open new markets.

SatLink operates a range of premier MCPC platforms for global content distribution on AsiaSat 2, HotBird 8, Galaxy 19, Sirius 4A (Astra 4), Eutelsat W2, Hellas Sat, Amos, and more. Its far-flung fiber network reaches from New Zealand and Australia to Hong Kong and Singapore to Europe and the Mediterranean and to North, Latin and South America.

In a rich media content generating area such as the Middle East, SatLink is also the communications provider of choice for international broadcast services, networks, and news agencies seeking to maximize coverage from this region and beyond. It is never a dull day as Reuters and APTN, two of the world’s leading providers of news and entertainment broadcast materials, employ the company for contribution and distribution of their materials around the world on a daily basis.

Mr. Hochner smiles at SatLink’s fortune. “SatLink sits in a strategic location and we are routinely busy around the clock, serving our long standing permanent customers as well as occasional use clients. Because of our 24/7 capabilities, we have developed a team efficiency rating that enables us to handle breaking news as regularly as permanent services.”

The most recent upgrade engineered by the company has been the augmentation of its High Definition (HD) capabilities. Company management has moved forward aggressively to expand its ground station’s HD transmission capabilities to as many as 12 simultaneous streams including encoding, decoding, and multiplexing the feeds — and the first operator in the region to possess complete end-to-end HD teleport facilities with those feeds. The new HD systems add a new layer of technologically advanced services, making the teleport a major gateway for sports, news, and special occasional events, as well as for HD permanent channels with HD Playout services provided through a nearby partner. The systems also enable the insertion of different languages into the streams prior to re-transmission and distribution, as well as down conversion of HD to SD and vice versa. Such enables the company to meet its partners’ growing needs for HD entertainment programming such as sports, nature, and films with the encoding, encrypting and multiplexing of multiple HD feeds.

According to Mr. Hochner, “HD will soon go from being a single digit percentage of revenues into a double digit earner. SatLink is already positioning itself to meet this need and its incumbent challenges.”

The satellite communications industry is also choosing the Company to undertake sophisticated technical projects. A case in point is SatLink’s TT&C and E.I.R.P. services to satellite operators and satellite owners. Based on its technical expertise and transmission facilities, SatLink offers satellite engineering services that include satellite beam measurements and performance; satellite tracking and command; satellite maneuvering, E.I.R.P. spectrum and multiple carrier analysis with remote access at client’s end; and traffic management multi-beams measurements and hub hosting.

Mr. Hochner is proud of the company’s accomplishments. “Anchoring SatLink’s continued business growth is our commitment to providing superior service, customized solutions and robust technical capabilities. In a dynamic business world, we are a global content distribution provider positioned perfectly at the intersection of the fast growing markets in Africa and the developed markets in Europe, North America and Asia.

“Despite the current economic turmoil, we are optimistic about the market’s rebound. In 2009, we brought forth additional HD capabilities, supplemented our highly qualified and vigorous technical team and enlarged our MCPC platforms. Consummating new deals in Asia, Europe, North America, and Africa have confirmed our abilities to provide the right solutions with the highest service level in a global market,” states Hochner.