‘Collaborative’ SES-Verizon Pact Seen Driving 4K Development for US FiOS Users

Driving “overall development” of Ultra HD delivery solutions for Fios subscribers in the U.S. is the aim of a “collaborative agreement” SES signed with Verizon, the satellite company said in a Monday announcement. It will supply Verizon with content to test from its “pre-packaged Ultra HD platform, which combines a growing lineup of Ultra HD channels and reception equipment in a cost-effective service delivered over scalable satellite capacity,” SES said. Since that platform is delivered “over dedicated satellite bandwidth,” it provides “a much higher quality viewer experience” compared with internet-streamed 4K offerings, “which can be susceptible to bottlenecks, buffering and network congestion,” SES said. “Home to nine linear Ultra HD channels, the platform provides the largest bouquet of Ultra HD programming available in North America.”