Professional Equipment

Broadband Systems

IP Software

Satellite distribution of DTV and MobileTV content.

Presented at: Regional Seminar on DTV Broadcasting, Algiers, December 2007

By: Joost Verbrugge

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Contents

• Why Digital Terrestrial TV ? • The way to Analog Switch Off• Single Frequency Networks• The primary distribution network• Why Satellite ? • Application examples• What about Mobile-TV ?

– What is mobile TV ?– Technologies and standards– Primary distribution of content for Mobile-TV

• Conclusions

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Why Digital Terrestrial TV ?

• From analog to digital TV transmission: why?– Robustness of the signal– Constant picture quality– New applications come in digital version only:

• Interactivity • High definition TV• Mobile TV

– More efficient use of spectrum (4-6 times)– Savings in operational cost of network

• Competitive with Cable, DTH, TelcoTV (IPTV)

– Availibility of low cost Set Top Boxes/receivers.

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The way to Analog Switch Off• Some definitions

– Standards • DVB-T, ATSC-8VSB, ISDB-T

– Digital Switch-0ver (DSO)• The start of digital transmission for public television

– Analog Switch-Off (ASO)• The end of analog transmission for public television

– Simulcasting • Period of simultaneous analog and digital transmission

of the same TV programming• This period allows viewers to convert from analog to

digital reception (Set Top Box, decoder, antenna)

– Digital Dividend • Savings in spectrum thanks to conversion to digital

transmission; can be re-used/sold for new applications. • Remember: dividend comes after investment...

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The way to Analog Switch Off

Every country has to decide on timing of– Step 1: decide on standard (DVB-T ?)– Step 2: Digital Switch Over plan (DSO)

• Including Frequency Plan, SFN/MFN, Capex plan...

– Step 3: Decide on Analog Switch Off date (ASO)– Step 4: Build network with 95+% coverage

• Simulcasting from DSO to ASO

– Step 5: Decide on spectrum allocation after ASO– Step 6: Grant licences/spectrum for new services– Step 7: ASO

• start of savings, start of new income

– Step 8...88: license new services including mobileTV, HDTV, multiplexes of above, (Wimax), (DAB), ...

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Single Frequency Networks

• Digital TV using COFDM allows SFN operation– One frequency for all transmitters in large area– Saves on frequencies used– Allows other (better) network topologies

• More transmitters with less power to cover area

• Requirements for SFN operation: – Each transmitter must radiate:

• On the same frequency• At the same time• The same data bits

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Single Frequency Networks

• Requirements for SFN Operation: implementation– Frequency and Time reference (e.g. GPS)– MIP specification and insertion by ‘SFN adapter’– Carefull design of network:

• Guard time selection defines maximum distances between transmitters

• Power levels should avoid intersymbol interference (noise)• Primary distribution network must deliver signal multiplex

intact (bit by bit identical) and on time at transmitter.

• Local content insertion per SFN area (market)– Allows local advertising in local language– Allows re-use of frequencies in non adjacent areas

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Single Frequency Networks

SFN 1

SFN 1

SFN 1

SFN 3

SFN 3

SFN 3

SFN 2

SFN 2

SFN 2

SFN 1

SFN 1

SFN 1

SFN 2

SFN 2

SFN 2

DVB-H

DVB-H

DVB-H

DVB-H

DVB-H

DVB-H

DVB-H

DVB-H

DVB-H

DVB-H

DVB-H

DVB-H

DVB-H

DVB-H

DVB-H

Local markets served by several SFN’s

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The primary distribution network

• What? : – The Primary Distribution Network brings the signal

stream (multiplex) to all transmitters in the DTT network.

• How? :– Terrestrial :

• fibre with SDH, ATM, ...protocols• Private IP based networks

– Micro Wave : Point to point links– SATELLITE based primary distribution network– Combination of above (redundancy)

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The primary distribution network

• Why Satellite ?

– Fast and reliable deployment possible• Once ‘on air’, the complete footprint has access to signal

– High and constant signal quality over entire footprint– Integrity of original signal stream (SFN !)

– No (re)multiplexers in network

– Constant delay, no (variable) ‘latency’ (SFN!)– Full redundancy possible – Less or no service interruptions in primary network

– No fiber breakdown, no power supplies, no equipment in signal path, ...

– Long term committment possible (opex cost control) – Scalable with limited Capex (investment cost)

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The primary distribution network

• Why (not) Satellite ?: challenges and solutions:

• Cost ? (perception of cost...?)– Initial (opex) cost an be an issue (first DSO phase)– Break-even between 50 and 100 sites– Opex cost under control by long term agreements – Save cost by efficient modulation schemes (S ->S2)

• Availability ? – New possibilities coming (Arabsat, NileSat, ...)– Ground equipment standardized from multiple

vendors

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The primary distribution network

• Why Satellite: network operator considerations:

– Fast network deployment possible– SFN operation easy to implement– Flexibility in network build-up

• Additional repeaters can be added when/where needed• No additional (distribution) cost when adding sites.

– Full coverage (ASO!) at limited cost– Most equipment centralized at one site (playout/uplink)– Network management & control easier/lower cost– Limited maintenance (transmitter sites only)– Only one service operator

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Application examples:

without COFDM + 3rd party Transmitter

+ 3rd party amplifier

Horizon - Amplifier

Integrated tranceiver possibilities:

Small power gap-filler

Medium power tranceiver

High power transmitter

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Application examples:

SFN 1

SFN 1

SFN 1

SFN 3

SFN 3

SFN 3

SFN 2

SFN 2

SFN 2

SFN 1

SFN 1

SFN 1

SFN 2

SFN 2

SFN 2

DVB-T

DVB-T

DVB-T

DVB-T

DVB-T

DVB-T

DVB-T

DVB-T

DVB-T

DVB-T

DVB-T

DVB-T

DVB-T

DVB-T

DVB-T

Local markets served by several SFN’s

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Application examples:

ASICONCEN-TRATOR

P1a, P2a, P3a,...

ASI TSa

P1b, P2b, P3b,...

ASI TSb

P1c, P2c, P3c,...

ASI TSc

P1d, P2d, P3d,...

ASI TSd

ASIDECON-CENTRA-TOR

P1a, P2a, P3a,...

ASI TSa

P1b, P2b, P3b,...

ASI TSb

P1c, P2c, P3c,...

ASI TSc

P1d, P2d, P3d,...

ASI TSd

MPEG/DVB/ATSCTransmission channel

Proprietary Transport stream

Exact copies

ASI TSx = MPEG Transport Stream x on ASI Px = Program x

Concentrator Deconcentrator for DVB-T (Newtec-Technology):

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Application examples:

Local market content insertion

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Application examples: • Basic primary distribution concept

One transport stream includes national and

all local channels

National and local

feeds

Encapsulator into TS

Satellite modulator

COFDM &

up conv

Sat demod

Local drop

Transmitter site

Ampli & filter

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Application examples:

Central HubDVB-H mod

Sat demod Local drop

DVB-H SSPA

Remote site

Broadcast TS

Sat3play modem

NM station

Management plane

S3Play Hub

Network monitoring & control

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What about Mobile-TV ? What is Mobile TV ?

Old dream of “Television wherever you go”

Casio 1983

Sony 1990

Sinclair 1977

RCA 1963 Seiko 1984 Sony 1982

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What about Mobile-TV ?

• What is Mobile TV anno 2008? • TV on your mobile• TV in your car• TV on the go (PSP, iPod, etc...)

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What about Mobile-TV ?

• Dream of “Television wherever you go”

Mobile TV at this moment is: • High quality TV for small screens on the move• Broadcast network with indoor coverage• Large number of channels instantly available• Choise of handsets, in-car sets, etc. ...• Personal Phone + TV integrated• Includes ESG, radio, VoD possibilities• Provides regional/local content (?)

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What about Mobile-TV ?

• Dream of “Television wherever you go”

Still some challenges to face/solve:• Agree on standards• Have frequency spectrum available• Combine telecom and TV worlds to realise

personal TV handset.• Create working business models• Adjust regulation (must-carry, protection of

minors, content rights, etc...)• Build/adapt transmission networks• Increase battery lifetime

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What about Mobile-TV ?Technologies and standards: overview

Existing

• S-DMB• T-DMB• DVB-H• MediaFLO• DAB-IP• ISDB-T

Bold = Satellite Delivery

Announced

•CMMB•DVB-SH•MBMS•A-VSB •ATSC-M/H•Wimax

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What about Mobile-TV ?Additional information on standards and technology: • DVB info on www.dvb.org and www.dvb-h.org • Standards on www.etsi.org • Comparison of bearer technologies by

bmco-forum on www.bmcoforum.org • Link budget paper on www.bmcoforum.org • Paper on MediaFLO at www.floforum.org

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Delivery of Mobile TV by Satellite

What ?

• Direct reception of satellite signal by handset• Used in Korea (S-DMB)• Announced in China (CMMB), Europe (DVB-SH) and

Middle East (S2M)• All systems use dedicated beams in S-band• All systems need terrestrial transceivers for indoor

reception in S-band, synchronized with direct beam.• Tranceivers need signal stream from primary

distribution (=satellite) ahead of direct beam.

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Delivery of Mobile TV by Satellite

• Advantages– Country wide coverage from day 1– Uniform reception performance– S-band: antenna diversity techniques possible

• Disadvantages:– Dedicated satellite needed (+back-up?)– No direct indoor reception possible

• Challenges: – Dense terrestrial network needed for indoor reception– S-band: propagation more difficult for indoor than UHF/L– Limited number of handsets available (except Korea?)

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Primary distribution for mobile TV

What ?• Signal distribution to transmitter towers, gap-

fillers, transceivers for mobile TV• Needed with all standards/technologies• Identical stream to all transmitters (SFN)• Mostly Ku-band, C-band also possible

Alternatives ? • Terrestrial distribution over fiber• Existing backbones, ATM, IP-networks• Microwave

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Primary distribution of mobile TV

• Advantages– Rapid deployment/extension of network possible– Most cost-effective for larger number of towers (>100)– Easy implementation of SFN network– Easy network management possible

• Disadvantages– (perception of initial) cost

• Challenges– Integrated transceiver availability– Local content solutions – Network management solutions– Back-up questions/solutions

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Primary Distribution network :

• Differences DTT versus Mobile TV : • For DVB-T versus DVB-H:

– Technology: almost identical– Network: requirement for indoor coverage !!!

• More signal strength needed • More tranceivers/gapfillers needed (deep indoor)• SFN operation required

– Satellite requirements for distribution:• Less bandwidth for DVB-H bouquet (5-8 Mbit/sec)• More gapfillers for DVB-H -> smaller receiver dishes

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Application examples: DVB-T and H combined

Combine multiple bouquets (=multiplexes)

in one saturated transponder

DVB-H can be added in second phase

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Conclusions for Mobile-TV :

• Good Mobile-TV reception ...– Means good indoor coverage …– Means many transmitters (1000+…) transceivers gap-fillers – Means Single Frequency Network Operation…– Means exact frequency/timing requirements…

• …means Satellite distribution to transmitters !

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Conclusions for DVB-T and H: • Digital Terrestrial TV needs large broadcast

network with full (outdoor) coverage to allow ASO. (50-500 sites)

• Mobile TV needs broadcast network with good outdoor and indoor coverage. (1000+ sites)

• Satellite distribution is cost effective for 100+ sites and allows rapid deployment of network

• Flexible local content distribution possible• SFN and MFN operation possible• More channels/lower cost with DVB-S2• Centralized monitoring and control possible• Solutions for different standards, markets.

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Satellite distribution of Digital-TV and Mobile-TV content

Thank You !Questions ?

Mail to : JVE@newtec.eu