Beyond C-Band: How cloudSwXtch Delivers a Future-Proof Alternative for Broadcast Distribution
- jerryschall
- Aug 11
- 3 min read
Summary: cloudSwXtch from swXtch.io can use the cloud, “on-prem” or core networks, and edge networks as a distribution mechanism in exactly the same way that satellite is used today.
Preparing for disruption in satellite distribution with swXtch.io
C-band satellite distribution has traditionally been used to transport broadcast-quality video content to TV stations, cable headends, and broadcasters, along with other downstream destinations for high quality video content.
Back in 2020, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) decision to sell off 280 megahertz of C-band spectrum for 5G deployment had a massive impact on satellite-based media distribution. The FCC reallocation of the 3.7–3.98 GHz portion of the band meant many broadcasters migrated their operations to the upper part of the C-band (4.0–4.2 GHz) which for the last five years has remained firmly allocated to satellite services.
But for how long?
With virtually every U.S. television household viewing content transmitted via C-band Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) the NAB says C-band use is already maxed out and that “usage of Upper C-band is now at least two-and-a-half times what it was before the Lower C-band auction.” Adding to an already uncertain environment, there is also growing industry concern that the remaining spectrum could also be sold off, phasing out C-band satellite usage for media distribution altogether and giving broadcasters a real headache. Losing a large portion of the C-band means there’s less spectrum available for satellite operators to carry multiple channels and services.
Robust transport and redundancy
Finding alternative networks to replace this distribution bandwidth is essential, and cloudSwXtch from swXtch.io can use the cloud, “on-prem” or core networks, and edge networks as a distribution mechanism in exactly the same way that satellite is used today.
It adopts broadcasters’ existing workflows by delivering content from source to destination using a global data plane the makes connected networks look like a single network. It applies the same protections and transport safeguards that broadcasters demand from their technology providers, and because it works with every major public cloud provider, it enables many different schemes for implementing SMPTE 2022-7 redundant data paths.
Native multicast
A big advantage of C-band satellite delivery is its ability to deliver efficient and lightweight multicast workflows, and cloudSwXtch works the same way, providing multicast transport across on-prem networks and cloud environments with minimal latency. The many benefits of multicast – network resource optimization, dynamic configuration, monitoring the actual source stream instead of a proxy, and others – are implemented exactly as in most broadcast networks.
Format agnostic
cloudSwXtch works at the transport layer delivering video content in any format or protocol. This means broadcasters can truly extend their networks across their global estate, including cloud networks as integrated extensions of their other networks. It also greatly simplifies the provisioning of multicast in the networks it enables, whether ground or cloud. On-prem networks can use the cloudSwXtch software overlay to implement multicast without adding multicast to the underlying network infrastructure. This allows disparate networks to share the same traffic without complex configuration. cloudSwXtch also includes lossless UDP packet protection that guarantees that every frame is delivered across the global estate.
Easy to implement
And because cloudSwXtch is software deployed as an image or container, it can run on any available compute infrastructure that meets minimum specifications, either in the cloud or on the ground.
cloudSwXtch provides a multicast-capable, robust and cost-effective alternative to C-band satellite distribution. But don’t take our word for it; is already being used by international broadcasters to perform a variety of media workflows to not only maintain distribution efficiency, but to replace the bandwidth lost to the C-band reallocation.
