The Role of SMPTE ST 2022-7 in Redundant Networks

Redundancy is a core principle of broadcast engineering. In IP, SMPTE ST 2022-7 provides hitless protection switching, ensuring that packet loss on one path doesn’t interrupt service. By 2025, it’s standard practice in serious deployments.

How It Works

2022-7 sends identical streams over two separate network paths. Receivers compare packets and use whichever arrives first, discarding duplicates. If one path fails, playback continues seamlessly.

Why It Matters

Uncompressed video streams are unforgiving — even tiny packet loss causes visible artifacts. 2022-7 eliminates these glitches by masking network issues in real time.

Deployment Considerations

• Separate topologies: Redundant paths should not share switches or fibers.
• Capacity planning: Doubling traffic requires robust infrastructure.
• Monitoring: Tools must confirm both paths remain healthy.
• Testing: Failover scenarios should be staged regularly.

Engineering Lessons

Facilities that skip redundancy often regret it after outages. 2022-7 adds cost, but the reliability payoff is clear.

For IP video, 2022-7 is not optional. It is the standard for achieving broadcast-grade resilience.