Hardware
VSNL extends uplinking services to digitally encrypted channels
Overseas communications carrier and sole uplinking service provider Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd is working on providing digital uplinking facilities to encrypted channels from Indian soil. As part of that the company has selected a range of Taridan Scopus Codico platforms which are to be installed in Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai. The service will initially be available from Chennai’s Ambattur uplink site where playout rooms will be provided at a price. It will be extended to the two other cities as and when the facilities are upgraded. No rates have been decided for the Multiple Channel Per Carrier (MCPC) services.
Prior to this, in nine different cities, Scopus had installed digital SCPC (Single Channel Per Carrier) systems that improve signal reach and quality.
The current installation covers the three major metros and Scopus has installed a number of MCPC systems. VSNL is using a Conditional Access System provided by Irdeto. Scopus digital platforms also enable VSNL to provide IP data services over these networks.
“VSNL is a very large part of the changing media landscape in India and now that we are part of their overachieving team, I am convinced that our digital tools will propel them even further,” says Arie Vered, Scopus Sales and Marketing Director. “VSNL’s selection of Scopus advances our growing interests in Asia and is a major confirmation for Scopus’ technology and reputation.”
The cornerstones of Scopus’ SCPC and MCPC systems are the CODICO E-1100 Professional Encoder and and CODICO IRD 2520 (Integrated Receiver / Decoder). The CODICO RTM-3600 Statistical Multiplexer / Re-multiplexer is behind the MCPC.
The E-1100 Professional Encoder operates at 50 Mbit/ second and support both MPEG-2 4:2:0P@ML and 4:2:2P@ML encoding levels. The E-1100, housed in a single unit rackmounted enclosure, uses an advanced video pre-processor to deliver flexible encoding capabilities and high quality pictures at any given bit rate and with a very low delay. The Encoder operates either at constant bit-rate (CBR) or at variable bit-rate mode (VBR), to support Scopus’ statistical multiplexing process.
The RTM-3600 is an MPEG-2 DVB compliant Statistical Multiplexer / Re-multiplexer that provides cost-effective MPEG-2 DVB stream multiplexing and efficient re-multiplexing. It is capable of multiplexing up to 15 MPEG-2 transport streams, re-multiplexing video programs and has a statistical multiplexing mode.
The Scopus systems also include an Network Management system, the NMS-4000.
Scopus has teamed up with MCBS (India) for project implementation and technical support.
Hardware
Specs Inc. partners with Qualcomm for next-generation smart glasses
Snap subsidiary to power future Specs with Snapdragon XR platforms.
MUMBAI: Snap’s Specs are about to get a serious upgrade and this time, they’re teaming up with Qualcomm to make sure the future looks crystal clear. Specs Inc., a Snap subsidiary, has announced a multi-year strategic agreement with Qualcomm Technologies to power future generations of its advanced smart eyewear with Snapdragon system-on-a-chip (SoC) technology.
This marks the first flagship engagement for Specs Inc., which is preparing to launch its standalone, see-through smart glasses for consumers later this year. The Specs are designed to seamlessly blend digital experiences into the physical world, allowing users to see, hear, and interact with digital content as if it were part of their real surroundings.
By integrating Snapdragon XR platforms, the glasses will benefit from edge AI and high-performance, low-power computing. This combination enables intelligent, context-aware experiences to run directly on the device, delivering faster and more private interactions.
The partnership builds on more than five years of collaboration between Snap and Qualcomm, during which Snapdragon platforms have powered multiple generations of Snap’s Spectacles.
Snap Inc., co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel said, “We believe the future of computing will be more human and grounded in the real world. Our work with Qualcomm provides a strong foundation for the future of Specs, bringing advanced technology and performance that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible.”
Qualcomm Incorporated president and CEO Cristiano Amon added, “The next era of computing will be defined by devices that understand what you see, hear and say, and respond instantly to the world around you. Our collaboration on Specs will enable power-efficient interactive AR devices that feel natural and intuitive.”
The agreement establishes a scalable foundation for developers and partners building experiences for Specs, supporting a predictable product roadmap and increasingly sophisticated digital interactions over time.
In a world racing toward augmented reality, Specs Inc. and Qualcomm are ensuring that the next pair of smart glasses doesn’t just look good on paper, they perform brilliantly in real life. The future of wearable computing just got a powerful new lens.
