Tata Communications, Formula One Management Test Delivery of Live Track-side Feed on an OTT Platform

Tata Communications has completed another successful proof of concept with Formula One Management during a recent Grand Prix. The new technology test delivered a live trackside feed from the Singapore track to Formula One Management’s Technical HQ in Biggin Hill, UK – with no time lag between the live broadcast and the footage viewed on the app.

Also known as an over-the-top (OTT) service, this test demonstrated how the Formula 1 fan experience could be enriched through new technology.

“It is very interesting to prove that, with the latest equipment and techniques, it is possible to achieve an online delivery of additional content with no delay relative to the main live programme on the screen,” says John Morrison, Formula One Management’s Chief Technical Officer.

The live OTT video feed was delivered using Tata Communications’ global fibre network and the company’s Media Ecosystem.  This converted the feed into different bit-rates – while providing a consistently high quality, real-time viewing experience – regardless of internet bandwidth or device. Unlike traditional OTT services (which often result in a lag of around 25 seconds between a live event and an online feed) Tata Communications demonstrated its capability to deliver an online feed with no delay.

“Technology continues to evolve at great speed and that is why we, together with Formula One Management, continuously work together to test new capabilities,” says Mehul Kapadia, Managing Director of F1 Business at Tata Communications. “Delivering a successful low latency feed to an app is another landmark step in our shared innovation journey.”

This latest proof of concept follows a 2014 season test where Tata Communications became the first company to deliver a live 4K feed from a Formula 1® event.  Here, live footage was delivered end-to-end over Tata Communications’ network to Formula One Management’s Technical HQ in Biggin Hill, UK. Demonstrated to an exclusive group of broadcasters, the live delivery highlighted the next generation 4K broadcast capabilities afforded by fibre-optic cable, and illustrated how the future of 4K sports broadcasting could look.

Today, over 24% of the world’s internet routes travel over the Tata Communications network which provides backbone connectivity to over 240 countries and territories, including all Grand Prix locations. Tata Communications is the Official Connectivity Provider to Formula 1, enabling the sport to seamlessly reach its tens of millions of fans across the globe. Tata Communications also works with 20+ broadcasters to deliver F1 to fans across the globe.