PanAmSat and KenCast have shown satellite distributed live video delivered to handheld devices at the WiMAX Forum in Vancouver, Canada.
The WiMAX Forum provides a showcase for applications of the wireless broadband technology.
At the show, PanAmSat demonstrated ten video channels, uplinked via the PanAmSat Galaxy 11 satellite, encoded and transcoded by Kencast and delivered to handheld devices.
KenCast provides multicast distribution systems for satellite and other networks.
“Satellite-delivered WiMAX technology is the future for handheld devices such as smartphones and laptops,” said Bruce Haymes, who is responsible for business development at PanAmSat. “WiMAX will also enable the delivery of IPTV throughout the US.”
WiMAX is a standard enabling the delivery of last-mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to cable and DSL. WiMAX will provide fixed, nomadic, portable and, eventually, mobile wireless broadband connectivity without the need for direct line-of-sight with a base station.
It is expected that WiMAX technology will be incorporated in notebook computers and smartphones in 2006, allowing for urban areas and cities to become “MetroZones” for portable outdoor broadband wireless access.