Technologies

and the
Future of the
Broadcast Spectrum

Communications Research Centre

Bernard Caron, Vice-President, Broadcast Technologies Research

Warning: The views presented are those of the author only.

The Future of the Broadcast Spectrum

1-OTA Digital Broadcasting Services

2-New Broadcasting Services

3-Other Telecommunication Systems

 Possible Scenarios for OTA DTV

• Full transition from analog to digital (HDTV) services (e.g.

USA)

• Hybrid model
– Replicate analog coverage with DTV in major centres
– Free (or low cost) Satellite or cable services elsewhere

• Multiplex Model
– HDTV services OTA in large cities
– SDTV services (Shared DTV multiplex) elsewhere

• Switch off OTA TV.

– Replaced by cable, IPTV, satellite, Internet and Wi-Max
distribution
 Efficient use of spectrum by OTA DTV

• Multiple SD TV stations on the same channel

• More efficient compression techniques: H.264/AVC (toward 1080P)

• More efficient Modulation techniques: DVB-T2

• Better Receiving Antenna…but Rabbit Ear better than HDTV antenna

on channel 12 in Québec City

• Distributed Transmitters Networks (Booth SL 11105 )

– A number of low-power transmitters
– Coverage can be shaped to reach only populated areas
– Potential for reduced construction and operating costs
– Potential for spectrum saving
– Needs for new tower sites may be problematic

• Replace off-channel repeaters by a Single Frequency Network

(SFN) for regional, provincial or national coverage
Possible Distributed Transmitters Network:
TV Ontario
Improvements to ATSC DTV Coverage :
Prediction of SFN Coverage

Fixed
Mobile

Example of CRC-COVLAB prediction for Mobile/Fixed

See Demo in Booth SU 6512
2-Spectrum for New Broadcast Services

• Mobile Television

• Radio services using DTV Transmitters

• 3-D TV

• New Applications:
– Intelligent Transportation Systems
– Public Alerting
– Datacasting
 Technologies for Mobile Broadcasting

• Mobile Broadcasting transmission systems:

– HD-Radio, DAB, T-DMB,DRM, DRM+
– ATSC Mobile DTV , MediaFlo, DVB-H, ISDB-T

• More efficient Audio/Video compression technologies

– Wavelet-based codec
– Frame rate conversion (CRC-FRC) Booth SL 11105
– Multi-frame motion estimation
– Bio-inspired audio coding algorithms

• Smart Mobile UHF-VHF Antenna

Radio Services using DTV Transmitters

• Use ATSC M/H (DVB-H, ISDB-T…) Mobile DTV

transmissions for radio services instead

• Radio (24-48 kbps/program) and Mobile TV service (400

kbps/program)

• 10-20 Radio stations in one Mobile Channel

• Could include images: Album Cover, Publicity...

• Text information: Traffic , Weather, Headlines

• Needs receivers
 Spectrum Efficient 3-D Video

• Investigation on compression
technologies for 3-D video

• Small increase in data

requirement

• Conversion of 2-D video

programs to 3-D
(Demo in NAB International
Research Park
Booth SL 11105 )
New Applications for Broadcasting Technologies

• Intelligent Transportation
Systems

• Digital Public Alerting

• Datacasting (e.g. Tagging)

• Non-real time data

• Smart Appliances Control

(FM-RDS)
3-Spectrum to be shared with Others

• Digital dividend after the analog transmissions switch off

– United States 12-6-2009
– Canada 31-8-2011
– UK end of 2012
– Japan 24-7-2011
– Russia 2015
– European Community Recommendation: 1-1-2012

• Various systems could share the spectrum currently allocated to

broadcast services:

– IEEE 802.22 Wireless Regional Area Networks

(Unlicenced ‘’White Space’’ Devices )
– Licenced Rural and Remote Broadband Systems
– MediaFlo, ATSC Mobile DTV, DVB-H, DMB
– Wireless Broadband (Wi-Fi, LTE or WIMAX) in the Broadcast
Band
The Broadcasting Systems of Tomorrow
• Wireless

• Large Local Area

• Broadband

• Mobile

• Flexible: Audio, Mobile TV, HDTV, 3-D, Data

• Integrated with other telecommunication systems to provide

two-way interactivity: Hybrid Broadcast Broadband

Ideal for mass distribution of multimedia content.

 An example of integration
Production Distribution Viewers Place
shifting

Distribution
Rights
Cable TV
IPTV

Broadcast
transmitters

Satellite

WI-FI
Internet
Cellular
A possible scenario for the spectrum (…
technically)

• UHF-28 (Distributed • UHF-52

Transmitters for ATSC – Broadband Wireless
Mobile DTV)
– 1 HDTV Program
– 2 Mobile TV • VHF-6
Programs – Digital radio stations
– 4 Radio Stations
• AM
• UHF-32 (Distributed – Digital Radio
Transmitters for ATSC) Mondiale
– SDTV Programs
from 5 local stations • FM
– HD-Radio (IBOC)
• UHF-63-64/68-69
– Allocated to Public
Safety
Telecommunication
 A challenge:
Broadcast Compatible Users Device
• Multi-standard receivers

• USB Connections

• Bluetooth Connections

• Wi-Fi Repeaters

• Software Defined Radio (SDR)

• Open Devices: e.g. Android

• See CRC Demo in the CRC Booth (SL 11105 )

at the NAB International Research Park
 Conclusions
• OTA Broadcasting continue to evolve and to play a major role.

• Radio and Television will be one part of an interactive

immersive multimedia experience.

• Ultimate goal is to get anything, anytime, anywhere…on a

variety of devices.

• Spectrum currently allocated to broadcast will be used around

the world by:
– Digital OTA broadcast stations to distribute fixed and mobile
TV, Radio and Data services
– New Broadcast services
– Others telecommunication systems and services
 Expected Achievement

Thank you-Merci
Communications Research Centre
Bernard Caron, Vice-President
Broadcast Technologies Research
613-998-2869, bernard.caron@crc.ca

www.crc.ca
NAB Booth SL 11105 and SU 6512