Assessing the technical requirements and implications of DVB-T transitions Eng. Andrew Kisaka, Principal Broadcast Engineer, Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority
COMMONWEALTH TELLECOMMUNICATION ORGANISATION (CTO) DIGITAL BROADCASTING SWITCHOVER FORUM ASSESSING THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND IMPLICATIONS OF DVB-T TRANSITION NAURA SPRING, ARUSHA 11 th -14 FEBRUARY 2014 Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority Presented by: Eng. ANDREW KISAKA 2
Principles for Assessment Regardless of DVB-T/T2, with the aid of the appropriate software; Identify the population area to be covered and get statistics (House Holds) Study the geographical terrain of your coverage Choose a suitable site for transmitter location Examine the suitability of the existing sites in terms of coverage Cost implication on to whether to start a new site or use the existing to achieve infrastructure sharing 4
Principles for Assessment Determine the reception modes of your network for network planning. Is it for; Fixed reception Mobile reception or Portable reception (indoor and out door) Decide on use of the Multi frequency Network (MFN) or Single Frequency Network (SFN) or the combination. Submit your technical requirements to the Regulator. After installations of the network conduct assessment of your coverage and take correction measures 5
6 Tanzania case study
Principles for Assessment After successfully switching off Analogue systems in SEVEN Regional towns, the Regulator and Multiplex Operators agreed to form a team to conduct coverage assessment with the following objectives; To measure extent of signal coverage for the THREE multiplex operators To verify reported complains from different areas in the city on signal reception. To propose correction measures based on the results of assessment 7
Equipment Used The Following set of equipment were used R&S Argus Measurement and Monitoring systems. GPS Receiver Antenna Mounted on Vehicle (about 3m above the ground) Raised outdoor antenna (about 7m from the ground) Television receiver Set Top Boxes (Star Times, Digitek and Ting) 8
9 Equipment Used
10 Equipment Used
Observations Some areas were observed to have very poor signal and sometimes not receivable. The main reasons were:- Uneven terrain (like Goba, Mbezi, Tegeta, Mtoni e.t.c) Blockage by buildings (like Kariakoo, Post e.t.c) Long distance from transmitter (Bunju, Mabwepande, Mlandizi, Kongowe e.t.c However more than 90% of the complains received were consumers problems of not been able to install the decoders and direct the antennae to the signal source 11
12 Measured Areas in Dar Es Salaam
13 Makongo Transmission Site to Bunju
14 Kisarawe to Bunju
15 BTL Mwenge to Bunju
16 BTL Mwenge to Kimara
17 DVB-T Vs DVB-T2
DVB-T Vs DVB-T2 DVB- T technical requirements Is the technical standard adopted by 120 Countries through GE-06 to implement terrestrial digital broadcasting The GE-06 planned for 174 230 MHz and 470 862MHz Traditionally these frequency bands are exclusive for Broadcasters. Because: Government wanted Digital Dividend UK 112 MHz in Band V US 108 MHz in Band V Japan 130 MHz in Band II, III and V 18
DVB-T Vs DVB-T2 19 The demand to access these frequency bands has been strong from services providers including Telecom operators These frequency bands provide a good balance between coverage for a certain power of transmitters Earmarked for Mobile Broadband services (IMT) FCC has been given its approval for the use of white space. Where frequencies at a given location and at a given time are available for use Some of the Countries are proposing porting to these bands to be used for Public Protection and Disaster Relief through agenda 1.3 of WRC-15
20 Source:
DVB-T Vs DVB-T2 21 DVB-T2 specifications first published by DVB project in 2008 Standardised by ETSI since 2009 It is the extension of the television standard DVB-T issued by the consortium of DVB It was also influenced by the demands to release the spectrum for non broadcasting applications The first Country that deployed DVB-T2 is the UK launched in March, 2010 It was followed by Italy, Sweden and Finland while Outside of Europe DVB-T2 were launched in some of African Countries mainly for PAY TV
DVB-T Vs DVB-T2 22 Key Commercial requirements for DVB-T2 Among the 21commercial requirements approved by DVB project; Make use of the existing domestic receiving antennae and transmitter infrastructure Provide a minimum of 30% capacity increase with the DVB-T in similar reception conditions Meet interference levels and spectrum mask requirements of GE- 06 Improve signal robustness Like the DVB-T, DVB-T2 uses OFDM Use 256 QAM
Comparison Table of DVB-T Vs DVB-T2 23
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DVB-T Vs DVB-T2 From the comparison table and specifications, it clearly indicates that; DVB-T2 is an enhancement of DVB-T Increases the bit rate capacity Improves signal robustness Allows for the possibility maximizing the performance of Single Frequency Network (SFN) since new carriers mode have been added and there is increase of symbol rate 26
trial adopted licenced deployed Technologies Statistics 70 DVB-T DVB-T2 ATSC ISDB-T DMB- T/H STATUS trial adopted licenced deployed trial adopted deployed adopted undecide adopted adopted d 0 41 5 72 10 34 24 8 14 3 45 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 27 DVB-T
28 Upgrading DVB to DVB-T2
DVB-T Vs DVB-T2 29 In upgrading DVB-T to DVB-T2 the cost of rolling out reduced significantly since; You will use existing infrastructure such as:- - Sites, transmitters, masts and antennas In multi frequency networks the same equipment will be used:- - Distribution circuits, network terminal equipment, transmitter input equipment and filters Except to acquire a DVB-T2 Modulator to replace DVB-T unit Coverage areas remains the same since planning parameters needs no change Cost increase if the broadcaster introduce new sites
30 viewers
DVB- T Vs DVB-T2 Viewers will need to replace DVB-T receivers by acquiring DVB-T2 receivers The success of launch of DVB-T2 will depend on viewer s demand of service Launch of High Definition Television (HDTV) Launch of interactive services 31
32 Migrating form DVB- T to T2
MIGRATING FROM DVB-T to T2 It is a market driven process For FTA Attract viewers by transiting new existing services of FTA to HD PLATFORM Introduce new channels by having appealing content in HD platform For Pay TV Introduce interactive services in order to compete with the existing pay TV platform i.e Cable and satellite DTT will need to remain competitive by being innovative, launching new services, while maintaining good relationship to keep viewers For Countries that have not launched DTT services may go direct to DVB-T2 This will eliminate the need for further transition period and reap benefit of DVB-T2 33
MIGRATION PLAN FOR SWEDEN FROM DVB T to DVB T2 MUX 1 ( DVB T MPEG2) MUX 2-5 (DVB T MPEG 4) MUX 6 and 7 (DVB T2, MPEG 4, HD)
35 CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION Upgrading DVB-T to DVB-T2 Network in most cases requires replacement of the modulator and for viewers replacement of the decoders Introduction of DVB-T2 should go with launching of interactive services as well as HD display to attract viewers and maximize increased channel capacity The migration from DVB-T to DVB-T2 should not cause any inconvenience to the consumers or disadvantage them from viewing digital channels Countries that have NOT launched DTT services may go direct to DVB-T2 36
37 RECOMMENDATION
CONCLUSION The migration from DVB-T to DVB-T2 should be market driven to follow the best practices in business Quotation from Digital Television Action Group (DigiTag) It is anticipated that a long simulcast period between DVB-T and DVB-T2 services will take place and DVB-T2 will be viewed as an enhancement to existing DVB-T platform rather than replacement 38
39 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENSION