A Consultative Document DRAFT FRAMEWORK FOR DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL TELEVISION BROADCASTING IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 1 Framework for Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting in Trinidad and Tobago Maintenance History Date Change Details Version 30th September First Consultative Draft 0.1 2010 23rd Second Consultative Draft based on comments received in September 0.2 the 1st round of consultation. 2011 Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago 2 September 2011 TATT 2/3/29 Framework for Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting in Trinidad and Tobago Table of Contents MAINTENANCE HISTORY ...................................................................................................................... 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................................. 3 1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 BACKGROUND AND SECTOR REVIEW ........................................................................................... 6 1.2 OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................................. 7 1.3 MODIFICATION TO DOCUMENT .................................................................................................... 8 1.4 THE CONSULTATION PROCESS ..................................................................................................... 8 2 KEY ISSUES IN DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL BROADCASTING............................................... 10 2.1 BENEFITS OF DIGITAL BROADCASTING ...................................................................................... 10 2.2 PROVIDING DIGITAL BROADCASTING SERVICES ........................................................................ 11 2.3 COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS AND SPECTRUM ALLOCATION UNDER ANALOG FTA..................... 12 2.4 REVOCATION OF ALLOCATED FREQUENCIES.............................................................................. 13 2.5 CONTINUITY OF SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC................................................................................... 14 2.6 PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERVICES............................................................................................. 16 2.7 ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS .................................................................................................... 16 2.8 IMPACT ON BROADCASTERS....................................................................................................... 17 2.9 IMPACT ON CONSUMERS ............................................................................................................ 18 3 SERVICE PROVISION AND SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION........................................................... 25 3.1 CONCEPT OF SIGNAL DISTRIBUTORS .......................................................................................... 25 3.2 INTRODUCTION OF COMMON SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION ................................................................. 25 3.3 THE CHALLENGES OF SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION............................................................................. 26 3.4 OBLIGATIONS OF SIGNAL DISTRIBUTORS ................................................................................... 26 4 APPROACHES FOR THE MIGRATION TO DIGITAL TELEVISION BROADCASTING.28 4.1 MARKET DRIVEN APPROACH TO MIGRATION ............................................................................ 29 4.2 POLICY DRIVEN APPROACH TO MIGRATION .............................................................................. 29 4.3 BROADCASTER NETWORK CONFIGURATIONS............................................................................. 32 4.4 DTT BROADCASTING STANDARDS............................................................................................. 36 4.5 DIGITAL MOBILE TELEVISION.................................................................................................... 43 4.6 OTHER BROADCASTING TECHNOLOGIES .................................................................................... 43 4.7 END USER EQUIPMENT............................................................................................................... 44 4.8 INTERACTIVE SERVICES ............................................................................................................. 46 4.9 SPECTRUM ALLOCATIONS FOR TELEVISION BROADCASTING SERVICES..................................... 48 5 ANALOG TO DIGITAL MIGRATION PROCESS ..................................................................... 51 5.1 MIGRATION TIMEFRAME............................................................................................................ 51 6 GLOSSARY ...................................................................................................................................... 54 ANNEX I: LIST OF BROADCASTERS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ........................................... 56 ANNEX II: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DIGITAL BROADCASTING .............. 59 ANNEX III: MIGRATION TIMEFRAMES FOR VARIOUS COUNTRIES...................................... 62 ANNEX IV: DTT TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT............................................................................. 64 ANNEX V: RRC-06 PLANNING AREA ................................................................................................. 70 Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago 3 September 2011 TATT 2/3/29 Framework for Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting in Trinidad and Tobago ANNEX VI: DECISIONS ON RECOMMENDATIONS MATRIX ...................................................... 71 Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago 4 September 2011 TATT 2/3/29 Framework for Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting in Trinidad and Tobago 1 IIntroductionntroduction The National Policy on Broadcast and the Broadcasting Industry seeks to create an environment for the development of a fully modernized and dynamic broadcasting sector and the contribution to the economic, social and cultural development of the nation. In the continuing development of the broadcasting sector into a fully modernized and dynamic industry with a fair and competitive market, the public will be afforded a range of broadcasting services in a fully regulated environment. Broadcasting is a key component of the information and communications infrastructure. Similarly, its operations are guided by a strong public interest requirement. Given the uniqueness of broadcasting and the importance of the service it provides, broadcasters have a special obligation to serve the needs and interests of their communities, one that has historically distinguished them from telecommunications service providers. Digital broadcasting uses digital rather than analogue waveforms to carry broadcasts over assigned radio frequency bands. Sound and pictures are processed electronically and converted into digital format. This format is then transmitted as a bit stream and reconverted by appropriate receivers or set-top boxes into sound and TV programmes. This results in improved reception quality, allows more programme channels and promotes efficient use of the spectrum Caribbean nations along with the wider world should be undergoing major changes in the area of television broadcasting with the movement from analog to digital. Many countries have either begun switching over or are developing a blueprint for the move. For some countries, like the United States of America, the change has already taken place while for others the process is only now beginning. Only countries in Europe and Africa have a mandate by the ITU1 for switchover by June 2015. As a result, there will 1 International Telecommunications Union - the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs) Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago 5 September 2011 TATT 2/3/29 Framework for Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting in Trinidad and Tobago no longer be protection of analog ‘Free To Air’ television broadcasting services by the ITU after 2015. In the interest of harmonization and capitalizing on the benefits of going digital, the rest of the world have taken the initiative to ensure switchover on or before this date. In Trinidad and Tobago the body responsible for broadcasting regulation, the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT), is addressing this important move through an authorization process called Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) broadcasting and has prepared a national policy for the switchover. In keeping with this, Trinidad and Tobago will be required to adopt a DTT broadcasting standard and define a date by which all analog broadcasting will be switched over to digital. In this regard the Authority has developed a Framework identifying and addressing the key issues in facilitating DTT broadcasting in this country. 1.1 Background and Sector Review The broadcasting industry in this country, in particular ‘Free To Air’ FM Radio Broadcasting, is highly competitive. Already 33 concessions have be granted for an associated 37 FM radio broadcasting station licences. Of these radio stations 31 are national, 5 major territorial and 1 minor territorial. In addition, there are 9 'Free-To-Air’ television broadcasters, of which 6 are national and 3 are major territorial. Cable systems are still largely analogue, although digital transmission is developing as seen in the national network