DVB Issue 2 Final
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Edition No. 02 June 2002 DVB - SCENE Tune in to Digital Convergence Tune 02 The Standard for the Digital World This issue’s highlights > Report on the current status of DVB-RCS > DVB-S powering distance learning > Patent Pooling > MHP conformance testing > DVB-T in Tawain Push For > Product Bulletin Return TURBULENT TIMES FOR their arrangements, but there is no doubt that free-to-air will continue. At DIGITAL TELEVISION no time during the debate about why A word from the DVB Project Office business models are to be adopted, but ITV Digital or Quiero failed has the the failures in the UK and Spain will DVB-T technology underpinning the certainly provide food for further platforms been called into question. thought. One reassuring element is that On a lighter note, this issue of DVB receiver prices are now much lower Scene concentrates on three major than they were at the time of the UK areas. The first is recent developments launch, and thus in a better position to in the DVB’s powerful return channel compete with DVB-C boxes on cable satellite specification - known as and DVB-S boxes on satellite. satellite interactive terminals in some DVB remains a key facilitator for the quarters. Prof. Gunnar Stette, working for the European Space Agency, Peter MacAvock, Executive Director digital television industry. In the face of the collapse of ITV Digital and Quiero, explains recent developments in the Issue 2 of DVB Scene comes to you in DVB technology remains a shining area, and there are articles outlining the face of difficult times in the digital example of how a co-ordinated the impact that the specifications are television industry in Europe. This is approach to digital TV delivery can likely to have on the industry. MHP particularly so with the demise of the reap benefits. ITV Digital’s major remains a hot topic: Rainer Schäfer digital terrestrial pay-TV operators - ITV competitors are NTL on cable (using (IRT) outlines the MHP Test Suite Digital in the UK and Quiero TV in DVB-C) and BSkyB on satellite (using development process, while Jud Cary Spain. Failures of this magnitude will DVB-S). The content providers are able (CableLabs) guides us through the have a serious impact on the industry - to furnish content either for the DTT thorny field of intellectual property perhaps causing some change in platform, cable or satellite platforms, rights. direction on the part of regulators, but and other elements of the industry We hope you like this edition of DVB DVB-SCENE : 02 digital terrestrial TV (DTT) will carry on benefit from the cross-platform Scene. Our aim is to provide the - it has to. interoperability. As the free-to-air industry with up-to-date news on DVB A recent study by the European services in the UK shared common issues. Should you have comments or Broadcasting Union indicates that elements with the Pay-TV operator, e.g. suggestions for improving the content almost all European countries will have SI generation (Service Information), of DVB Scene, please don’t hesitate to DTT by 2005. It is unclear which there will need to be some revisions to contact us. Gunnar Stette GUNNAR STETTE CHAIRMAN DVB-RCS REPORTS ON THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE STANDARD DVB-RCS, interactive digital Internet access to their citizens towards The first version of the RCS system broadcasting with return channel via effective broadband and higher was based on the use of transparent satellite, can be seen as the long bandwidth networks. satellite transponders, of the “bent distance version of the very successful DVB-RCS is based on the very pipe” type, for the return direction. With WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) successful digital TV broadcasting the general expansion of broadband systems of different types which are system via satellite, DVB-S. Digital systems, also systems using satellite, expanding rapidly, and where the broadcasting systems with return new satellite terminals are being provision of Internet services is the channels via different transmission developed. It is in everybody’s interest main driving force. media have been standardised within to harmonise the terminals and to The RCS systems provide broadband the DVB ETSI framework, and RCS, obtain any synergy that can be access independently of the local the last member of that family, can be achieved between different systems. infrastructure and are therefore implemented by an incremental The synergetic effects of this can result available universally, something that is investment to the existing systems. in a wider market with lower terminal recognised by governments and the costs. A new version of the standard has EU. National governments are keenly been produced on by the ad-hoc group Without going into details it can be aware of the need to provide universal and approved by the DVB Technical mentioned that additional elements broadband access, and are constantly Module. There are two significant have been incorporated into the first seeking ways to remove the digital changes in this new version of the version of the signalling system of divide. Many governments have targets standard whilst ensuring full backwards RCS. One is to define a destination in place for the provision of universal compatibility. forward link in a regenerative system C. Elia - ESA, M. Gouta - ESA, V. Foix - CNES, E. Weller - Eutelsat, J. R. Lopez - Hispasat, M. Battihka - Intelsat, J. Krause - SES-Astra, B. R. Anderson - Telenor, D. Mignolo - Alenia Spazio, Ch. Rigal - ASPI, S. Defever - Astrium DVB-RCS TERMINALS FOR REGENERATIVE SATELLITE MULTIMEDIA SYSTEMS DVB Return Channel via Satellite bands, multi-spot coverage areas and (DVB-RCS) forms the specification for high-speed digital signal processing on the provision of the interaction channel board the satellite. for GEO satellite interactive networks Following the emergence in Europe of with fixed return channel satellite a number of proprietary Regenerative terminals (RCST). The standard, Satellite Multimedia Systems (Skyplex, developed under the auspices of the Domino II, Web/West, Euroskyway) in DVB Forum, was created through the 1999 ESA took the lead to study cooperation of satellite operators and possible ways to facilitate convergence satellite equipment manufactures, of different systems towards a common including system providers, hub standard by harmonising the manufacturers and terminal Regenerative Satellite Access manufacturers. Companies from Terminals (RSATs). Europe, North America and the Middle AHG-RSAT reviewed a number of On ESA’s initiative, and with the East have been involved in this activity. reference models, service cooperation of the main interested DVB-RCS may well become a global requirements and system architectures parties, the Ad-Hoc Group (AHG- satellite standard that allows equipment for RSMS, typically featuring not only RSAT) was created with the aim of DVB-SCENE : 03 manufacturers to focus on the same on-board signal regeneration, but also developing recommendations that technical solution, thus providing a packet or circuit switching between could form the basis for standards for healthy and open competitive beams. satellite terminals to be designed to environment, providing enormous Star and mesh network topologies were operate within a variety of Regenerative benefits to industry and users alike. considered. The connectivity topologies Satellite Multimedia Systems (RSMS). span from point-to-point or multipoint- In recent years, the multimedia The basis of the technical work was the to-multipoint (physical or link or network revolution has created a huge demand DVB-RCS ETSI Standard. for high-speed connections to the layer) scenarios to point-to-multipoint Members of the AHG-RSAT group network. Satellite systems have been (including broadcasting) and multipoint- include ESA, a number of satellite designed to respond to such demand. to-point. operators (EUTELSAT, Hispasat, In particular, Regenerative Satellite The main result is the full convergence Intelsat, SES-Astra, Telenor), certain Systems will constitute the next among a number of initially different satellite system designers (Alcatel generation of telecommunication systems on the use of one and the Space Industries, Alenia Spazio, satellites. They will provide very high same ‘harmonised’ terminal. Astrium) and the French space agency speed Internet connections to Furthermore, the terminal CNES. European Commission and corporate and consumer users characteristics are based on the ETSI were invited as observers. equipped with small (60-80cm existing DVB-RCS. This means that the Membership of the group was on a diameter) antenna terminals. This is economies of scale are even greater. voluntary basis. achieved by employing high-frequency and another is to include an element to A detailed description of the new the market. identify the capability of a terminal to elements will be provided in the revised The lower limit for the symbol rate, support dynamic connectivity. Guideline Document, and the technical mentioned in the informative Annex of work is expected to be finalised at an The modifications to the standard the first version of EN 301 790, was RCS meeting in mid 2002. address the use of RCSTs for return 128k symbols per second. When channels in the DVB system with One modification of the standard is that transmit power is related to the symbol regenerative satellites, but at the same it is symbol rate independent. That rate, a rate reduction could lead to time incorporate some “hooks” that means that the system designers may lower transmit power and consequently would allow development of terminals specify, and the equipment to lower power amplifier cost. This is for operation in meshed networks. The manufacturer must declare, the range noteworthy since cost of the power incorporation of these hooks at this of symbol rates over which the amplifier in the outdoor unit of the stage does not create any backwards terminals are capable of operating. The terminal is significant.