The company’s first major break was the development of television repeaters, required across the whole of Spain to broadcast the 1982 soccer World Cup. When Spain entered the European Union in 1986, the country also joined the European Space Agency, and Mier applied the technology that it had developed for TV antennae to the needs of the space sector.

Aware of the importance of strengthening the focus on research and innovation, in 1987 Mier established a new company, Mier Comunicaciones, headed by the founder’s son. Since then, the company’s ESA activities have received international recognition, which has led to involvement in dozens of satellites used for scientific applications, navigation, and telecommunications.

Some of the main clients are broadcasting network operators such as Abertis Telecom, Telenor and Telefónica; and space agencies and leading satellite constructors and operators such as Space Systems Loral, Thales Alenia Space, and EADS-Astrium.

Mier exports more than 80% of its production, and currently has clients in the U.S., the U.K., France, Italy, Germany, China, and others.

Intelsat satellite. Source: Space Systems Loral

Research for the Future

The company’s success stems in part from its ongoing research into solutions for broadcasting digital and mobile television.

It was the first company in the world to supply the first digital TV isofrequency repeater, to Germany’s Deutsche Telecom, in 1997. The repeater transmits and broadcasts a signal over the same channel, minimizing use of the spectrum.

But transmitting on the same channel can result in an echo, so in 2001 Mier supplied the world’s first digital TV repeater with an echo cancellation system for Digita Oy in Finland. The company then applied this technology to digital radio for BSD in Denmark and to mobile television for U.S.-based Qualcomm.

These technologies for digital and mobile television provide a lower network cost compared to traditional transmitters, thus enabling the mass roll-out of repeaters. Mier Comunicaciones was the first company to develop this solution, which it patented internationally and now employs in more than 2,000 pieces of equipment in more than 25 countries.

Article published in june 2011
Arantxa Noriega

The company’s first major break was the development of television repeaters, required across the whole of Spain to broadcast the 1982 soccer World Cup. When Spain entered the European Union in 1986, the country also joined the European Space Agency, and Mier applied the technology that it had developed for TV antennae to the needs of the space sector.

Aware of the importance of strengthening the focus on research and innovation, in 1987 Mier established a new company, Mier Comunicaciones, headed by the founder’s son. Since then, the company’s ESA activities have received international recognition, which has led to involvement in dozens of satellites used for scientific applications, navigation, and telecommunications.

Some of the main clients are broadcasting network operators such as Abertis Telecom, Telenor and Telefónica; and space agencies and leading satellite constructors and operators such as Space Systems Loral, Thales Alenia Space, and EADS-Astrium.

Mier exports more than 80% of its production, and currently has clients in the U.S., the U.K., France, Italy, Germany, China, and others.

Intelsat satellite. Source: Space Systems Loral

Research for the Future

The company’s success stems in part from its ongoing research into solutions for broadcasting digital and mobile television.

It was the first company in the world to supply the first digital TV isofrequency repeater, to Germany’s Deutsche Telecom, in 1997. The repeater transmits and broadcasts a signal over the same channel, minimizing use of the spectrum.

But transmitting on the same channel can result in an echo, so in 2001 Mier supplied the world’s first digital TV repeater with an echo cancellation system for Digita Oy in Finland. The company then applied this technology to digital radio for BSD in Denmark and to mobile television for U.S.-based Qualcomm.

These technologies for digital and mobile television provide a lower network cost compared to traditional transmitters, thus enabling the mass roll-out of repeaters. Mier Comunicaciones was the first company to develop this solution, which it patented internationally and now employs in more than 2,000 pieces of equipment in more than 25 countries.

Article published in june 2011
Arantxa Noriega