The new transcoding platform, based on Appear’s X Platform, is designed to handle 270 HD channels, utilising H264/MPEG4 and H265/HEVC codecs, in addition to five UHD channels with H265/HEVC encoders. The multiplexing solution is capable of supporting 500 television and radio services. The X Platform offers a significant reduction in the number of rack units (RU) needed, reducing the requirement to just 10 RUs for the whole platform.

Adnan Kapetanović, Head of Video Operations at BH Telecom, noted: “Delivering 270 channels in premium quality requires an enormous amount of bandwidth, and robust live transcoding and computing power. We chose Appear not only because of its industry-leading technology, but because it offers a partnership that supports our complex technical considerations and needs. The Appear X Platform was the most compact, energy efficient, and powerful transcoding platform we surveyed, making it an efficient, sustainable and cost-effective option for us. With the X Platform, we’re able to meet growing demands from our expanding subscriber base without faulting on the quality of experience we deliver.”

The deployment and delivery of the system were carried out in collaboration with the local Bosnian systems integrator, Net Solution d.o.o. Appear is providing comprehensive technical training for both BH Telecom and Net Solution d.o.o. at its headquarters in Oslo, ensuring both engineering and operations teams have all the tools and resources needed to operate the platform seamlessly.

Thomas Bostrøm Jorgensen, CEO at Appear, said: “As the consumer appetite for premium on-demand streamed content continues to surge, broadcasters and streaming media providers face new challenges in delivering transcoded content to a sea of subscribers. While many vendors shift towards the cloud, this is not the answer for everyone as it often brings higher operational expenditure when hardware-based on-premise solutions can be much more cost effective. Appear is committed to supporting BH Telecom in delivering its TV and IPTV services and looks forward to being an integral technology partner. With the Appear X Platform in its toolbox, BH Telecom can deliver the best customer experience to its subscribers across Bosnia and Herzegovina.”