DTT : general technical points

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DTT general technical points

• François-Xavier Georgetin charge of technical
  affairsDirection du Développement des Médias
• (fx.georget_at_ddmedias.pm.gouv.fr)

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Table

• DTT general overview?
• Technical aspects
• How marketing scenario is influencing technical
  points

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DTT general overview

• Digitalization
• general trend in broadcasting
• better quality
• less expensive transmission
• more numerous services
• What is DTT
• Digitalization of terrestrial hertzian waves
• 3 historical broadcasting transmission means
• terrestrial
• satellite
• cable

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Allocation of each transmission vector

• Allocation different depending on each country
• broadcasting and industrial policy
• breakdown of the population
• multi-equipment in households
• One third of households with more than one TV
  receiver
• US and japan about 3/4
• UK 37 (24 more than 3 )
• For example France

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DTT essential to digitalization

• In a country where terrestrial is a main mean of
  reception DTT is one (if not only ?) way to
  provide digital services to every body at large
  scale in short time
• In completion of digital cable and satellite
• Reusing of analogical transmission sites
• feeling of simpleness to take benefit of plug
  and play
• reusing of antenna
• low cost of up grading 23 each household vs ?
  150 for cable and satellite
• adapted to local television (contrary to
  satellite)

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Basic technological aspects of DTT

• spectral efficiency 6 times more than
  analogical
• spectrum planification with less constraints
• isofrequency
• transmitters 20 times less powerful
• portability mobility

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Desavantages compares to cable and satellite

• Still expensive transmission cost for one channel
• between 5 à 10 millions a year for 80 of
  people in France (vs 80 anal.)
• 0,5 million a year for satellite
• could be between 2 and 4 millions for cable
  (but different model)
• low bit rate available
• 6 mux ? 150 Mbit/s vs 1 Gbit/s for cable and ? ?
  for satellite
• very low real interactivity

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Objectives pursuited with DTT

• In France decision has been made DTT has to be
  launched
• To complete digital offer
• To spread free TV offer
• To stand for cultural diversity
• To stand for consumer electronic industry
• more efficient management of radio spectrum
• in second term switch off

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DTT an old technology out of date ?

• Recent controversy in France
• real problem for some people the heavy legally
  framework
• DTT vs xDSL
• condition to be available for people
• business plan
• real debate
• broadcasting network vs commuted networks
• MPEG 2 vs MPEG 4
• Broadcasting lays on settled technology
• reliability
• cost for consumer

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Detailed technical aspects to be take into
account

• Spectrum management
• transmitted signal specifications
• reception
• antenna
• set up boxes
• Workshop in France since 2002
• National regulatory authority
• broadcasters
• industrialists

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Spectrum management

• Planification
• switchover analogical and digital
• avalability of spectrum
• international coordination
• to define objectives to be reached
• what kind of coverage (macro / micro cellular)
• fix
• portability
• mobility
• Consequences induced
• re-arrangment of analogical spectrum

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Signal specifications 1

• DVB-T
• standardisation adopted at european level
• new electronic communication packages and
  standardisation
• scrambling algorithm
• API
• new electronic communication packages and
  standardisation
• MHP

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Signal specifications 2

• specific information transmitted
• list of channels
• name
• further information on programs
• parental control
• epg
• crossed information
• interoperability of set up boxes
• up-grading of set up boxes

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Reception

• Transmitted is one thing, to be able to receive
  an other
• UK 1998
• Antenna
• collective antenna
• Set up boxes

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Antenna

• Antenna vs portability
• 2001 Simavelec study for France individual
  household

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Collective antenna

• Portability
• must carry rules
• 2001 Simavelec study for France collective
  antenna

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Set up boxes

• Availability in reatil market
• Sp
• UK
• price
• under 100
• free to air vs pay TV

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Set up box specifications

• Consumer elctronic industry
• set up boxes
• integrated digital TV
• specific model for certain country
• extra functions
• parental cost
• EPG
• API

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Experimentations

• Technical validation
• live experiments before launching
• signal reception portability
• compatibility with analogical channels
• compatibility with cable
• antenna
• set up boxes

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Switch off

• goal to be reached within reasonnable terms
• marketing success
• turn over of TV 10 a year
• continuity of services
• different steps
• simulcasting
• specific helps compliance with european law as
  technological neutrality

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Conclusions

• Under estimation
• real steeple chase with heavy consequences
• UK
• SP
• Credibility of DTT in a network world
• Emily s aunt s reception mean
• Big influence of business plan
• free to air
• pay TV

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THE END