NEP Connect (formerly known as SIS LIVE) is to provide Ultra High Definition fibre connectivity for Sky Sports Ultra HD coverage of the English Premier League. It reaffirms NEP Connect’s vision of being the connectivity provider of choice for critical media content.

Today’s announcement follows months of collaboration between NEP Connect and Sky Sports to ensure viewers receive live coverage in the highest possible picture quality.

From the start of the 2016-17 Premier League football season on 13 August, NEP Connect will utilise its Anylive(R) fibre network to deliver Ultra HD pictures for 124 games covered by Sky Sports.

The managed fibre connection (up to 850 Mbit/s) will use NEP Connect’s fibre infrastructure, connecting every Premier League ground to NEP Connect’s network operation centres in MediaCityUK and Milton Keynes, in addition to Sky Sports studios.

HD reverse vision feeds will be delivered as part of the service, and NEP Connect is providing Sky Sports with network control on match days by installing Net Insight’s Nimbra Touch and Switch technology at Sky Sports studios.

David Meynell, managing director, NEP Connect, said: “Sky Sport’s decision to use NEP Connect’s Anylive fibre network to deliver their new, high profile channel means that we are well on the way to being recognized as the critical connectivity provider of choice.

“Our satellite expertise remains, but we also boast fibre links between major broadcasters, network operators, and UK sports stadia, backed up by microwave links in some locations to give triple resilience. I believe our combined fibre and satellite solutions are unrivalled in the UK market.”

NEP Connect’s highly skilled technical teams have collaborated with Sky Sports for several months, testing the technology to transmit high resolution 4K pictures (which quadruple the number of pixels in a full HD picture) via its extensive fibre network.

Meynell said: “John Cuggy, NEP Connect’s head of Technical Sales Support, and Gordon Roxburgh, Sky Sports’ Technical manager, and their teams, have worked closely throughout a thorough testing process to achieve a proven and robust solution.

“We are very confident Sky Sports Ultra HD coverage will prove to be compelling viewing for Premier League fans looking for comprehensive match coverage with stunning picture quality.”

James Clement, Head of Operations, Sky Sports said: “We are delighted to utilise the services of NEP Connect to help deliver coverage in Ultra HD. We have a long relationship with NEP Connect and know we can rely on them to work closely with our teams to deliver high standards.”

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