Modern broadcast workflows increasingly rely on software-defined tools at the edge, traditionally requiring dedicated server hardware alongside network equipment.
Peplink partner 444Video, together with Frontier UK, is exploring a more efficient approach: combining resilient multi-WAN connectivity and edge computing on a single Peplink platform. This reduces the need for additional hardware while giving broadcast teams the flexibility to remotely adapt their workflows.
444Video delivers bespoke, integrated broadcast solutions by combining enterprise-grade technology with deep broadcast expertise. Its solutions help organisations scale IP-based infrastructure, automate complex workflows and use real-time telemetry while reducing operational complexity.
Traditionally, running software-defined broadcast functions at the edge requires a dedicated server hardware. A separate 1U “pizza box” server may need to be shipped and deployed alongside network routers simply to provide the local computing resources required for software agents and edge processing.
This increases the hardware footprint, freight costs and power consumption. It also introduces additional devices that need to be configured and managed, as well as potential additional points of failure during critical remote broadcast operations.
444Video therefore wanted to explore whether networking and edge processing could be consolidated into a single, off-the-shelf platform.
Working with Frontier UK, 444Video tested different Peplink devices to determine what could be deployed on both ARM and x86 architectures.
The goal was to find the smallest possible hardware footprint while retaining the computing capabilities required for the workload. The Peplink BR2 was used for ARM-based applications, while the Peplink SDX Pro provided the platform for x86 workloads.
Through Peplink’s Docker container and KVM virtualisation capabilities, software-defined broadcast functions can run directly on the Peplink hardware.
Without disclosing specific software vendors, 444Video identified several key broadcast functions that can be brought onto the platform:
Instead of requiring separate networking and compute devices, the Peplink platform can therefore provide both the connectivity and local processing capabilities required at the edge.
Edge computing is only one part of the equation. Broadcast operations also require reliable connectivity, particularly when video and other critical data need to be transported from remote locations.
The same Peplink platform provides multi-WAN connectivity and network redundancy through SpeedFusion technologies.
Bandwidth Bonding can combine multiple WAN connections, while WAN Smoothing can help protect live transmissions against packet loss and jitter. Hot Failover adds further resilience by maintaining connectivity when an individual WAN connection becomes unavailable.
This means that instead of deploying separate platforms for network connectivity, redundancy and edge processing, these capabilities can be brought together within the Peplink ecosystem and managed centrally through InControl 2.
One of the key advantages of this approach is flexibility. Because software-defined broadcast tools can be deployed through Docker, the purpose of the edge compute environment does not have to remain fixed after the hardware has been deployed. Applications and workloads can be changed remotely, allowing teams to adapt the edge computing use case without replacing or shipping additional hardware to the location.
For broadcast teams working across temporary or remote production environments, this can make deployments significantly more agile. The same Peplink hardware can support different software-defined functions depending on the requirements of the production. It also provides an alternative at a time when dedicated server hardware can be expensive and difficult to source.
The proof of concept demonstrates how Peplink edge computing can remove the need for a dedicated secondary server for supported workloads. For each deployment where the separate 1U edge server can be eliminated, that means one less device to purchase, ship, power, configure and manage.
Compared with a traditional multi-device stack, combining edge compute and network connectivity can therefore reduce hardware requirements and logistics while simplifying the overall deployment. At the same time, software workloads can be remotely deployed and reconfigured, reducing the need to physically change equipment whenever the requirements of a broadcast workflow change.
Frontier UK supported 444Video by providing a range of Peplink devices for testing, allowing the team to explore what could be deployed across both ARM and x86 hardware. Together, the proof of concept demonstrates how Peplink can go beyond its traditional role as the connectivity layer within a broadcast environment.
By combining resilient multi-WAN networking with local computing capabilities, Peplink can become an integrated part of the software-defined broadcast workflow, helping reduce hardware complexity while giving production teams more flexibility at the edge.
For 444Video, this opens the door to a new approach to remote broadcast infrastructure: run more of the workflow at the edge, without adding more hardware.
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Frontier IB offers a local approach to provide support to our customers wherever needed. As a value-added distributor, we think innovatively to combine reliable, high-quality products with exceptional service. At Frontier, we deliver value through innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to excellence.
— Sander Koenders, Regional Director at Frontier IB
