3G

Forget cell phones, here's the real deal

'3G' is short for a three Gigabit per second serial data interface for video transfer. 3G makes it possible to transmit twice as much data as current high definition video standards. Currently, video processing is limited to 1.5 Gigabits, known simply as 1.5G.

Ready for 3G

'Ready for 3G' could be seen everywhere at 2009's National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) exhibition in Las Vegas. It included routing switchers with 3G backplanes and cameras with 3G interfaces, among others.

Chris Prosio went on record for Rental & Staging magazine, saying: "The current terrestrial broadcast chain only supports 1.5 Gbps transmissions. Currently, the only way to obtain true progressive 1080p signals is through a local source, such as a video server, and the cost to broadcast 3G signals may in fact keep them out of traditional broadcast channels for a while. However, the concept of local video servers downloading content via the net may accelerate 3G's entry into the market."

Beyond the horizon

An obvious advantage of 3G is that it also prepares broadcasters and event companies for what lies in wait beyond HD. While not excellent, 1.5Gbs may be sufficient to process HD video, but it certainly won't be once the next big leap in resolution and realism arrives.

While HD is now an obvious reality, it had been around for quite a while before gaining mainstream acceptance. As early as the '80s, it was recognized for its outstanding image quality, but there was no complementary technology to support it in an event or broadcasting network. Slowly, support and demand for HD grew, not in the least in routing and cabling technologies. It is very likely that 3G, as a technology with only upsides, will follow the same direction.