Future of terrestrial broadcasting in the UHF band?

The Cush

Earlier this week Comreg published a preliminary consultation on the future management and use of the UHF band (470 - 790 MHz) in Ireland.

As expected one of the issues discussed is the release of the 700MHz band (694 - 790 MHz) for mobile broadband and other uses, aka Digital Dividend 2, from Nov 2015 (post WRC-15). This will no doubt happen here in due course.

Also discussed is the future of the remaining part of the UHF broadcasting spectrum (470 - 694 MHz).

6.10 At a global level, agenda item 1.1 of WRC-15 seeks to consider additional spectrum allocations to mobile services on a primary basis and to identify additional frequency bands for IMT, in order to facilitate the development of terrestrial mobile broadband applications in accordance with Resolution 233 (WRC-12). The remainder of the UHF band, 470 – 694 MHz, is currently being considered as a candidate band for study under this agenda item.

6.11 In addition, the future of the UHF band is under consideration by CEPT and the EC recently formed a high level advisory group to advise it on this issue and has also issued a request for an Opinion by the RSPG on the issue.

6.12 Given the on-going debate at an international level, and noting that a number of countries have already begun a public debate on this issue, ComReg is seeking the views of interested parties with regard to Ireland‘s use of the remainder of the UHF band i.e. 470 – 694 MHz, and how any such use should be balanced between the needs of existing uses and potential new uses.

Of course no matter what decisions are made at WRC-15 there is no requirement on national authorities to change their current use.

watty

This will no doubt happen here in due course.

It shouldn't, not anywhere. The Consumer is being sacrificed for short term revenue selling licences.

We need Terrestrial TV. In the future it's likely to need more spectrum. The original so called Digital Dividend will not deliver a single Broadband connection, just add some Mobile capacity. The only real dividend was the Licence Revenue.

Comreg with no consultation or sense or democratic input already decided some time ago to work toward abolishing terrestrial TV.

The Cush

watty wrote: »

It shouldn't, not anywhere.

You know it'll happen.

watty

Not a happy thought.

Where are all the nice stuff my books and comics promised for 21st Century? It seems the consumer dystopia forecast by some of the darker cynical writers has arrived early.

Philip K Dick, John Brunner, Robert Sheckley, Ben Bova (esp Homeworld Trilogy), Brian Aldiss, George Orwell, HG wells, Harry Harrison, Bob Shaw.

STB

The Cush wrote: »

Also discussed is the future of the remaining part of the UHF broadcasting spectrum (470 - 694 MHz).

What Comreg need is a picture for that frequency block.

The Cush

Sweden to move DTT from the 700 MHz band (UHF Chs. 49-60) by April 2017 by reducing the number of muxes from 7 to 5 and also use the VHF band for DTT.

http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/18434/a/235008
http://www.digitag.org/DTTNews/article.php?Id=5579

https://tech.ebu.ch/news/ebu-fears-for-swedish-dtt-services-after-28feb14
http://www3.ebu.ch/sites/ebu/contents/news/2014/02/ebu-fears-for-swedish-terrestria.html

Sam Russell

If we are to follow them, we need to appoint the consultants this week, and get them to report really quickly by, say, this time next year. Then we need to set up an experimental system to test the technology - best to use a Swedish company as they will know about it by then. That will take two years at least.

Then we need to go into a trial phase for another two years with perhaps a French company. We should then launch the new system, after a tender contest between rival consortiums, and following the awarding of the licence (to the Dutch entry), run it all in parallel with the current DVB-T1 system for at least two further years so that the viewers can get used to the idea. Should take us upto 2021 at least, but probably 2025.

By which time, it will be replaced by fibre-to-the-home system operated by Sky.

watty

Policy is being driven by those with deepest pockets. Not by logic, common sense or what is the best technical solution nor best for consumer.


No testing is needed. The technology to do what ever you want (Mobile 4G or DTT) on VHF or UHF is in use over 5 years.

Scrap DAB and have all Band III for TV if you like though. A DVB-T receiver works better than DAB anyway. Though unlike Digital TV which is OK, Digital Radio of any kind is fairly stupid.

Comreg will go with whatever gives most Licence Revenue.

Gerry Wicklow

Sam Russell wrote: »

If we are to follow them, we need to appoint the consultants this week, and get them to report really quickly by, say, this time next year. Then we need to set up an experimental system to test the technology - best to use a Swedish company as they will know about it by then. That will take two years at least.

Then we need to go into a trial phase for another two years with perhaps a French company. We should then launch the new system, after a tender contest between rival consortiums, and following the awarding of the licence (to the Dutch entry), run it all in parallel with the current DVB-T1 system for at least two further years so that the viewers can get used to the idea. Should take us upto 2021 at least, but probably 2025.

By which time, it will be replaced by fibre-to-the-home system operated by Sky.

Don't forget that we first need to hire consultants to decide if we need to form a committee to hold a tribunal to have an enquiry into whether we need to hire consultants to investigate the cost of holding a tribunal on the cost of hiring consultants to decide if we need a committee..............

:D:D

Sam Russell

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Don't forget that we first need to hire consultants to decide if we need to form a committee to hold a tribunal to have an enquiry into whether we need to hire consultants to investigate the cost of holding a tribunal on the cost of hiring consultants to decide if we need a committee..............

:D:D

I gave the shorter version. The one that takes only 11 years and cost just €150 million (at todays prices).

watty

Then after all that Comreg will do exactly what they had previously decided.

I'm not joking. Have you seen any of their consultations and compared the final outcome with reading between the lines at the start?

_John C

So when this happens we will have to tell customers with C/D aerials "You will need a new aerial" :mad:

Wow, What a load of bull.

The Cush

_John C wrote: »

So when this happens we will have to tell customers with C/D aerials "You will need a new aerial" :mad:

This change will require a major replanning of the DTT spectrum which will probably include a reduction in the number of frequencies allocated per transmitter now (8 MFNs + 1 SFN) and could include a change to the DVB-T2 standard to compensate for the loss of spectrum.

Copyerselveson

I would scrap DAB altogether and free up the Band III spectrum for DVB-T2. Since radio is already being broadcast on DVB-T why not market sound only receivers for cars etc.?

I can see Ireland switching to DVB-T2 to save scarce spectrum and shift all remaining major channels to HD.

The Cush

Copyerselveson wrote: »

I would scrap DAB altogether and free up the Band III spectrum for DVB-T2. Since radio is already being broadcast on DVB-T why not market sound only receivers for cars etc.?

Ireland has 1 national DTT VHF frequency allocated under the GE06 in addition to its DAB allocations.

Our DTT network isn't designed for in-car/mobile reception (RCP2), it's designed around fixed reception (RCP1) - https://tech.ebu.ch/docs/techreview/trev_2009-Q4_Spectrum_Brugger.pdf

Sam Russell

If we accept that pay-tv is dead, it is unlikely that more than 4 muxes will ever be needed. If the next muxes are DVB-T2, then migration to that standard would give us sufficient channels for any likely/expected requirement. We could then release some UHF to other uses, not necessarily mobile phones. Use for point to point broadband would be efficient as the same channel could be reused many times compared to broadcast.

Details are needed before a proper consultation/decision can be arrived at imho.

The Cush

Sam Russell wrote: »

Use for point to point broadband would be efficient as the same channel could be reused many times compared to broadcast.

Any UHF spectrum released will be harmonised throughout Europe, Comreg won't be going it alone as was done with MMDS previously (economies of scale etc.). The UHF spectrum will be used for broadcasting and PMSE, future released spectrum will be sold off to the mobile operators and the interleaved spectrum will be used for WSD.

watty

Sam Russell wrote: »

If we accept that pay-tv is dead, it is unlikely that more than 4 muxes will ever be needed. I

What about:
Stereoscopic TV
True 3D TV
96 FPS progressive or other better frame rate than 25FPS interlaced 50Hz
Higher resolution TV


Once the spectrum is pissed off on poor performance Mobile we will never get it back.

The Cush

The Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) within CEPT, today, published a draft report on the long-term future for the UHF broadcasting band in Europe for public consultation.

The report is part of the a major discussion in Europe on the future of the UHF broadcasting band since it was added as an agenda item for WRC2015 during WRC2012.

Two WRC2015 agenda items on the UHF band were added at WRC2012. The ECC draft report published today relates to agenda item 1.1

1.1 to consider additional spectrum allocations to the mobile service on a primary basis and identification of additional frequency bands for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) and related regulatory provisions, to facilitate the development of terrestrial mobile broadband applications, in accordance with Resolution 233 (WRC-12); [Amongst the bands under consideration is 470-694 MHz]

1.2 to examine the results of ITU-R studies, in accordance with Resolution 232 (WRC-12), on the use of the frequency band 694-790 MHz by the mobile, except aeronautical mobile, service in Region 1 and take the appropriate measures;

http://www.itu.int/oth/R1201000001/en

ECC Press Release - http://www.cept.org/ecc/ecc-consults-on-draft-report-setting-context-for-a-long-term-vision-for-uhf
Draft Report - http://www.cept.org/files/1051/Tools%20and%20Services/Public%20Consultations/2014/Draft%20ECC%20Rep224.docx

The Cush

Ofcom also published a consultation last week on it preparations for WRC2015

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/wrc15/

The Cush

With the discussion about the future of broadcasting in the UHF band underway for WRC2015 Nokia launched a national LTE TV trial in Germany last month using a single frequency network from 4 transmitters.
- http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2014/07/29/nokia-in-national-lte-tv-trial/
- http://advanced-television.com/2014/07/29/nokia-trials-lte-for-national-tv-broadcasting/

At the end of July the EBU published a study on the delivery of broadcast content over LTE networks which concludes "it is not realistic to expect that LTE will become a viable alternative to broadcast distribution, including terrestrial TV networks (DTT), in the foreseeable future".
- http://advanced-television.com/2014/08/01/ebu-lte-not-on-for-broadcast/
- http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2014/08/01/ebu-questions-lte-tv-viability/

- EBU press release - https://tech.ebu.ch/Jahia/site/tech/cache/offonce/news/ebu-publishes-study-on-the-delivery-of-b-31jul14;jsessionid=A931E1F897A89C20BBC30464065BE6E0.jahia1
- EBU Study - https://tech.ebu.ch/docs/techreports/tr027.pdf

Earlier this year the EBU pubished a number of studies into broadcast TV over mobile networks which concluded it was too costly and not a good use of spectrum.
- https://tech.ebu.ch/news/mass-linear-tv-content-via-cellular-netw-26may14

Sam Russell

^^^ Is that good news?

The Cush

Sam Russell wrote: »

^^^ Is that good news?

Remains to be seen. Terrestrial broadcasting in the UHF band, albeit reduced in size, will be around until at least 2030 by all accounts but beyond that who knows. The Nokia trial could be the beginning of the end of terrestrial broadcasting as we know it.

That being said Holland has published a consulatation of the future use of its UHF broadcast band once the DTT licences expire in 2017, over 90% of Dutch households have a cable TV connection.
- http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2014/07/07/decision-on-future-of-dutch-dtt-in-2015/
- http://advanced-television.com/2014/07/07/dutch-debate-dtt-future/

The Cush

Comreg yesterday published its response to the preliminary public consultation on the management and use of the UHF radio frequency band (470 – 790 MHz) in Ireland which was publised last Feb.

http://www.comreg.ie/publications/response_to_consultation_14_13_on_the_management_and_use_of_the_uhf_radio_frequency_band_in_ireland.583.104670.p.html

Nothing new that stands out in the response other than the feedback submitted from the various interested parties like RTÉ, 2RN, etc.

2RN from their submission "it would be prudent to expect and plan for at least 3, or possibly 4, high quality national multiplexes in Ireland. 2RN recognises that the Broadcasting Act 2009 specifies that 6 multiplexes must be accommodated. This requirement clearly needs revision, and while it contains no direct reference to spectrum, it was enacted at a time when the entire 470 to 862MHz band was available for broadcast use"

RTÉ from their submission "While there is provision for up to 9 DTT multiplexes in the 800MHz Clearance Plan*, it is important to recognise that this does not represent 9 equal layers. In particular it would be incorrect for any readers to assert that the DTT platform in Ireland currently uses only 2/9ths of the 470 to 790MHz band. Any practical implementation of the 800MHz Clearance Plan could result in 2 layers with a high level of similar national coverage (up to 98%), 4 layers of broadly similar near national coverage (but somewhat less than 98%), and a further 3 layers of reduced coverage. Practical implementations of more than the 2 initial layers would have implications for the potential coverage of each of the layers, and their use would impact existing viewers. This is an important point as it highlights the extensive interdependencies and compromises within the 800MHz Clearance Plan, and that the unused layers do not represent exclusive and separate clean spectrum"

It looks like the future revised spectrum plan (and revised Broadcasting Act) will reduce the number of national DTT layers to four now that commercial DTT is unlikely to happen.

The next step for Comreg is to carry out a Cost Benefit Analysis of clearing the 700MHz band.

*Current Geneva 2006 Plan (GE06), revised in 2012 and internationally coordinated with the UK (800MHz Clearance Plan) - http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/broadcasting/Web_Ireland_United%20Kingdom%20800MHz%20DTT%20Clearance%20Agreement_06July12.pdf

The Cush

The Dept of Communications has also commenced a review of national spectrum policy and a public consultation document was issued on 24 July.

http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/2014/Minister+White+launches+consultation+on+Spectrum+Policy.htm
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Communications/Communications+Policy/Consultations/

The consultation follows on from a Dept of Comms broadcaster stakeholder group (UHF Spectrum Policy Review Group) report on the future use of UHF spectrum for broadcasting in Ireland which was completed last May

Hotblack Desiato

The Cush wrote: »

RTÉ from their submission "While there is provision for up to 9 DTT multiplexes in the 800MHz Clearance Plan*, it is important to recognise that this does not represent 9 equal layers. In particular it would be incorrect for any readers to assert that the DTT platform in Ireland currently uses only 2/9ths of the 470 to 790MHz band. Any practical implementation of the 800MHz Clearance Plan could result in 2 layers with a high level of similar national coverage (up to 98%), 4 layers of broadly similar near national coverage (but somewhat less than 98%), and a further 3 layers of reduced coverage. Practical implementations of more than the 2 initial layers would have implications for the potential coverage of each of the layers, and their use would impact existing viewers. This is an important point as it highlights the extensive interdependencies and compromises within the 800MHz Clearance Plan, and that the unused layers do not represent exclusive and separate clean spectrum"

So if we go beyond 2 muxes in future, some areas might only have 'saorview lite' with only the 2 main muxes.

I didn't get the chance to look at the documents but is there the possibility of using SFNs again in the future to increase coverage / allow future enhanced services like 4K while still allowing for four or more muxes?

Sam Russell

Why was the SFN of 3rock and Kippure ended?

Sam Russell

Sam Russell wrote: »

Why was the SFN of 3rock and Kippure ended?

I don't know if an official reason was ever given but some suspected that the close proximity of mux 2 to the LTE frequencies was to blame.

Motala

Also something was mentioned about the distance between Three Rock & Kippure (about 9.5 km) being greater than the distance the signal travels (about 8.4 km) within the 28 μs guard interval used by the Saorview transmissions, meaning they could interfere with each other at some locations. (NE Dublin say, where the tight angle between transmitters would cause the discrepancy to become apparent.)

Maybe this turned out to be more of a problem than originally envisaged?

Sam Russell

Would be good to know for certain. SFNs could be used more to save spectrum.

The Cush

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

I didn't get the chance to look at the documents but is there the possibility of using SFNs again in the future to increase coverage / allow future enhanced services like 4K while still allowing for four or more muxes?

The only mention of SFN's is in the stakeholders report for the Dept, national SFNs don't appear to be an option in the near future

Different network topologies are possible with both DVB-T and DVB-T2. The two main categories are Multi-Frequency-Networks (MFNs) which require different frequencies for transmission sites with overlapping coverage, and Single Frequency Networks (SFNs) which allow a single frequency to be reused at some or all sites. Although SFNs reduce the amount of overall spectrum used there is a trade-off in terms of capacity, coverage (due to selfinterference), and network complexity/cost. DVB-T2 has better SFN capabilities than DVB-T. Note that while many European countries have adopted some level of small scale or regional SFNs, successful large scale SFNs are still unproven.