Globecomm Systems Receives $3.5 Million Contract to Provide the U.S. Navy’s First Onboard IP Video Entertainment System
May 8, 2012
Globecomm Systems Inc. announced today that as a Cisco Service Provider Video Technology Partner, it has been selected to deliver an enhanced communications distribution infrastructure for the Navy’s newest nuclear supercarrier, Gerald R. Ford (CVN78). The contract, valued at $3.5 million, represents a significant technological upgrade to the Navy’s existing analog system for video acquisition and onboard content delivery.
As a turnkey solutions provider / systems integration (SI) subcontractor to Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding operation, the Globecomm/Cisco team has employed best-in-class solutions from Cisco’s digital media suite. The design consists of a multi-functional, satellite-based entertainment system for a ship under construction—the first of the new Ford-class supercarrier. The new enhanced SITE TV—the first IP video system for the U.S. Navy fleet—will provide tremendous cost savings, along with enhanced quality, scalability, and flexibility to add new capabilities and services in the future. Globecomm and Cisco will document the architecture for publication to potential customers illustrating the enticing business case of enhanced services and the potential for OPEX reductions.
A 10G Cisco backbone will support the system as well as the ship’s video surveillance capabilities, providing sailors with access to live streaming media options, multimedia programming access while at sea, as well as pier-side cable services. It will also provide an interface to the ship’s onboard video production studio where live or pre-recorded broadcasts can be accessed and viewed. Other capabilities include video on demand (VoD), digital signage and collaborative access via Cisco’s Show and Share webcasting and video sharing application.
Keith Hall, President and Chief Operating Officer of Globecomm Systems, said: “Highly individualized system design and a proactive approach to future-proof infrastructures are at the heart of Globecomm’s expertise in the design, implementation and integration of content delivery systems and mobile technologies. Globecomm’s designation as an Authorized Service Provider Video Partner required extensive training and program prerequisites to sell, deploy and support Cisco’s solutions. As a Cisco silver partner, we believe that Cisco’s advanced digital media capabilities provide the highest quality solution for this important installation and we will continue to identify opportunities to implement innovative solutions for projects with similar requirements to SITE TV.”
Bart Spriester, Director of IP Video Systems, Cisco Service Provider Video Technology Group, said: “This SITE TV project represents a first of its kind video entertainment system that can impact tens of thousands of sailors and officers across the Navy fleet. As one of the most complex deployments of the Cisco Digital Media System, it is truly a new application of existing technologies, encompassing Cisco CAST and Show-and-Share applications, along with Cisco encoding technology.”
