Euskal Irrati Telebista (EITB), the public media organization of the Basque Country, has selected the AEQ CONEXIA intercom system for its headquarters in Bilbao, following a rigorous public tender process that included the required documentation and testing.
The project includes an AEQ XCORE matrix, 128 AEQ TP9116 user panels and AEQ XPLORER MAX wireless beltpacks, providing a high-capacity intercom infrastructure designed to meet the demanding operational requirements of the facility.
With more than 3,000 m², EITB Media’s newsroom is among the largest audiovisual newsrooms in Spain, bringing together radio, television and digital content teams in a single working environment.
CONEXIA: A high-availability Intercom platform
At the heart of the system is the AEQ XCORE intercom matrix, with the capacity to interconnect up to 1,000 different devices. At EITB, it has been implemented with full operational redundancy, including dual power supplies, a redundant N+a DSP platform and multiple controllers.
The system operates natively over AoIP and incorporates multiple levels of hardware, software and network redundancy, ensuring 24/7 operation with high availability and audio quality.
CONEXIA’s Broadcast architecture allows different audio formats to be managed in a modular way, adapting system resources to the requirements of each installation. Its internal TDM bus enables the matrix to be scaled up to 1,024 x 1,024 ports, while the platform provides Broadcast-quality audio at 48 kHz and 24 bits.
XCORE incorporates DSP cards for audio processing and crosspoint management, with the option of backup cards and automatic failover. The system also includes input and output cards for different formats, including SDI, fibre, AoIP, analogue and digital audio.
TP9116 Panels and IP connectivity
The 128 AEQ TP9116 panels included in the project provide “Talk” and “Listen” functions, individual volume control and 16 crosspoint keys arranged across four pages, with four RGB graphic displays.
The panels process audio at 24 bits and 48 kHz and feature IP connectivity for DANTE audio, compatible with AES67. They also include analogue, KROMA digital and VoIP ports, as well as an internal DSP for acoustic echo cancellation and automatic voice adjustment.
The TP9000 family is completed by the TP9416 desktop panel and the EP9116 expansion panel, which allows systems of up to 64 physical levers to be built.
Xplorer MAX: Wireless Communication
The project is completed by AEQ XPLORER MAX wireless beltpacks, providing technical and production staff with freedom of movement, together with high-quality audio and extended coverage through IP connectivity.
XPLORER MAX can operate over coverage areas of up to 700 metres in a straight line, with up to 20 beltpacks operating from a single antenna. Coverage can be extended by interconnecting up to four antennas on the same network.
The deployed solution combines the capacity and redundancy of AEQ CONEXIA with the flexibility of the TP9116 panels and the mobility of XPLORER MAX, providing EITB with an intercom infrastructure designed to meet the needs of a large-scale audiovisual facility.
The project was led by EITB’s Engineering, Projects and Operations teams, together with AEQ’s central services in Madrid.
With this project, EITB strengthens the technical infrastructure at its Bilbao headquarters with an intercom solution designed to meet the demands of an organization with extensive activity across radio, television and digital content. The new platform facilitates coordination between teams and productions, providing the reliability, flexibility and capacity required for a facility of this scale. The work carried out by EITB’s Engineering and Operations Department has been key to achieving an integration fully adapted to its production workflows and to the needs of an audiovisual infrastructure of this scale. All of this serves an organization that, beyond informing and entertaining, plays an important role in promoting and preserving the Basque language and culture.
For more information about EITB, visit www.eitbtaldea.eus/es/
