Rohde & Schwarz IBC 2026 showcase targets satellite and terrestrial modernization

The introduction of the R&S PKU100 Ku-band amplifier addresses a critical bottleneck for satellite operators by providing a direct migration path to solid-state technology without requiring total infrastructure overhauls. This shift is essential for maintaining operational resilience as legacy tube systems become increasingly costly to maintain. Within the broader ecosystem, the integration of 5G Broadcast and ATSC 3.0 into terrestrial transmitters allows broadcasters to diversify revenue through non-traditional services like datacasting and PNT. As the industry moves toward IBC 2026, watch for how quickly satellite operators adopt these 1:1 replacement solutions to lower their total cost of ownership.

Rohde & Schwarz has been expanding its broadcast infrastructure portfolio across multiple standards and geographies. In early 2026, the company announced that its 5G Broadcast transmitter technology had been selected for a trial by Italian broadcaster RAI, building on earlier field tests in Germany and Austria. The 5G Broadcast standard, formalized in 3GPP Release 16, enables high-power high-tower transmissions to mobile devices without SIM cards or data plans, positioning terrestrial broadcasters to compete with cellular streaming for live events. Rohde & Schwarz has been one of the most active equipment vendors in this space, alongside competitors like GatesAir and NEC, who are also developing 5G Broadcast-capable transmitters for the European market.

On the satellite side, the R&S PKU100 Ku-band amplifier enters a market where solid-state power amplifiers (SSPAs) are steadily displacing traveling-wave tube amplifiers (TWTAs) in uplink applications. SES completed a multi-year program in 2025 to replace legacy tube-based uplink amplifiers with solid-state units across its European teleport facilities, citing reduced maintenance costs and improved reliability as primary drivers. Eutelsat has similarly invested in solid-state uplink infrastructure as part of its fleet modernization efforts following its merger with OneWeb. The broader Ku-band amplifier market is served by competitors including CPI International (now part of L3Harris), Aethercomm, and Block Upconverter specialists, though Rohde & Schwarz differentiates with its 1:1 drop-in replacement approach that minimizes site engineering changes.

Rohde & Schwarz has also been active in the ATSC 3.0 ecosystem, which forms part of its IBC 2026 terrestrial transmitter showcase. The company supplied ATSC 3.0 exciter and transmitter equipment for Sinclair Broadcast Group's NextGen TV rollout across multiple U.S. markets, contributing to the standard's expansion to over 80% of U.S. television households by mid-2025. The ATSC 3.0 standard supports advanced features including 4K HDR video, targeted advertising, and emergency alerting, making it a key revenue diversification tool for terrestrial broadcasters. Rohde & Schwarz's dual focus on satellite and terrestrial modernization reflects a broader industry trend where broadcast infrastructure vendors are consolidating multi-standard capabilities into unified product platforms to reduce operational complexity for their customers.