How broadcasters are navigating the satellite transition with AWS

This article explains how broadcasters are adapting to the elimination of C-band satellite spectrum by transitioning to IP-based distribution on AWS.

• FCC auctions are eliminating 88% of C-band downlink spectrum by December 2030, forcing broadcasters to migrate or adopt new distribution methods
• Ku-band satellite offers continued delivery but suffers from rain fade and requires equipment changes at receive sites
• IP-based distribution deploys faster, scales incrementally, and integrates with software-defined broadcast workflows
• Four connectivity models connect content sources to AWS: public internet (SRT/RIST/Zixi), AWS Direct Connect for dedicated private connections, AWS Interconnect for last-mile automation, and Amazon Leo satellite broadband
• AWS Elemental MediaConnect replaces satellite transponders with managed live video transport across AWS private backbone with 99.9999% availability
• MediaConnect Router enables software-defined routing of any input to any output globally with real-time source switching
• Amazon CloudFront provides CDN delivery to consumers through 600+ global edge locations
• Cloud distribution eliminates satellite constraints, enabling per-market variants, language-specific tracks, and region-locked content from single ingest feeds

Broadcasters starting migration planning now can choose their transition path on their own terms rather than facing rushed timelines as C-band spectrum disappears.