Planning of digital terrestrial broadcasting.

Results of the Regional Radiocommunication Conference RRC-06

Evghenii SestacovDeputy Director General of the NRFC,

tel. +373 22 727278, fax +373 22 733941, е-mail: esestacov@cnfr.md

In 1961 in Stockholm took place the Regional Radiocommunication Conference which approved the Regional Agreement for the European Broadcasting Area concerning the use of frequencies by the broadcasting service in the VHF and UHF Bands (ST61 Agreement).

In 1989 in Geneva took place the Regional Radiocommunication Conference which approved the regional Agreement for the African Broadcasting Area concerning the use of frequencies by the broadcasting service in the VHF and UHF Bands and neighboring countries (GE89 Agreement).

These Agreements contain relevant Plans of analogue radio and TV stations.

A little history

Because of the rapid development of digital technologies, inclusive in the digital broadcasting, in 2002 the ITU Council approved Resolutions 1180 and 1185 regarding the convening of Regional Conference for the planning of digital terrestrial broadcasting in frequency bands 174-230 MHz and 470-862 MHz (RRC-06) in planning area covering European, African and neighboring countries.

Thus, the RRC-06 planning area includes 118 countries in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Middle Asia.

RRC-06 Planning area

The first session of the Conference (RRC-04) took place in May 2004 and laid the foundation for research in inter-sessional period, elaboration and submission of Administrations requirements for digital broadcasting to the ITU.

The second session of the Conference (RRC-06) took place in May-June 2006.

NRFC elaborated the draft of digital broadcasting plan (digital television DVB-T and digital audio broadcasting T-DAB) for the Republic of Moldova on the basis of the following planning principles: planning based on synchronous single-frequency networks, mobile reception (RPC2), 7 MHz raster for each DVB-T channel in the 174-230 MHz band, without taking into account other primary services, without taking into account analogue stations.The above principles were almost the same as approved at RRC-06.

At the same time:Transition to the Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting leads to a more efficient usage of the radiofrequency spectrum and offers more advantages in comparison with the analogue terrestrial broadcasting: In one digital TV channel can be transmitted 8 TV programs of SD quality (standard definition); the immunity of digital TV signals against interferences rises up; creation of interactive TV systems whereby viewers have the possibility to influence the transmitted program (for ex: video on demand); the possibility to transmit with the digital TV signal additional data; the possibility to set up the language and subtitles.

Regional Radiocommunication Conference (RRC-06) took place in Geneva, in the period 15 May – 16 June 2006.

In the work of RRC-06 participated more than 1010 representatives of 109 Telecommunications Administrations, 37 representatives of regional organizations and others.

RRC-06

Digital sound broadcasting frequency blocks distribution on the territory of RM (216-230 MHz band)

Block 12B - 224.880-226.416 MHz

Block 12C - 226.592-228.128 MHz

Block 12A - 223.168-224.704 MHz

Block 12B - 224.880-226.416 MHz

Block 12D - 228.304-229.840 MHz

Block 11C - 217.872-219.408 MHz

Block 11B - 219.584-221.120 MHz

Block 11A - 216.160-217.696 MHz

Block 11C - 217.872-219.408 MHz

Block 11A - 216.160-217.696 MHz

TV channels distribution on the territory of RM for national division areas (174-216 MHz and 470-790 MHz)

Edinet - TV channels: 5, 26, 30, 37, 39, 56

Minrestii Noi - TV channels: 8, 21, 22, 24, 29, 33

Trifesti - TV channels : 10, 28, 36, 44, 46, 48

Straseni - TV channels : 6, 26, 30, 31, 42, 56

Causeni - TV channels : 9, 21, 29, 49, 50, 57

Cahul - TV channels : 7, 28, 36, 44, 48, 53

TV channels distribution on the territory of RM for regional division areas (470-862 MHz)

Edinet – TV channels : 23, 66

Mindresti – TV channels : 47, 68

Balti – TV channels : 40, 49

Floresti – TV channels : 41, 50, 65

Bender – TV channels : 59, 63

Trifesti – TV channels : 27, 67

Ungheni – TV channels : 51, 69

Chisinau – TV channels : 23, 38, 61

Cimislia – TV channels : 32, 66

Causeni – TV channels : 58, 65

Comrat – TV channels : 62, 64

Cahul – TV channels : 47, 67

Conference Totals: 1. RRC-06 approved the GE-06 Agreement, which contains regulating provisions, analog and digital broadcasting Plans in the frequency bands 174-230 MHz and 470-862 MHz.  2. Digital Plan of the Republic of Moldova contains: a)  TV channels for 7 DVB-T national coverages in the frequency band 470-862 МHz (UHF) b)  Additional TV channels (with respect to a)) for coverage of Chisinau, Balti and Floresti areas. c)  TV channels and frequency blocks for digital sound broadcasting regarding one DVB-T coverage and two T-DAB coverages in the frequency band 174-230 МHz (VHF).

Agreement entered into force on 17 June 2007.

Frequency assignments from analogue Plan are protected only during the transition period, which is specified

up to June 17, 2015.

 

Final Acts of the Regional Radiocommunication Conference for planning of the digital terrestrial broadcasting service in parts of Regions 1 and 3, in the frequency bands 174-230 MHz and 470-862 MHz (RRC-06) were ratified by the Law of the Republic of Moldova with No. 69-XVI dated 27.03.2008 (Official Monitor No. 74-75/247 dated 11.04.2008). Final Acts of the Regional Radiocommunication Conference for the Revision of the ST61 Agreement (RRC-06-Rev. ST61) were ratified by the Law of the Republic of Moldova with No. 68-XVI dated 27.03.2008 (Official Monitor No. 74-75/245 dated 11.04.2008).

  In 2010 NRFC had analyzed the current state of

the channels of analogue terrestrial television stations and their impact on digital channel allocations of the Republic of Moldova from the Geneva-06 Plan in the band 470-790 MHz. Proposals were developed regarding technical parameters of digital stations for national and regional division allocations for transition period to digital terrestrial television.

 

From the analysis the following conclusions can be made that for optimization of radio frequency spectrum usage, in the transition period : 1. In frequency band 470-790 MHz (21-60 TV channels), from 30 planned digital allocations (large areas) of RM, without switching off the analogue TV stations, 15 allocations, which form 2.5 national coverages, can be used with antenna diagram sector restrictions. Sector restrictions for digital stations antennas are imposed to assure analogue TV stations protection. After the transition period, those sector restrictions will be removed. The usage of the rest 15 allocations in the transition period can be made only in case of switching off of analogue TV stations not only in Moldova but also in neighboring countries.

  2. In the band 470-790 MHz (21-60 TV channels),

from 14 planned digital allocations (regional areas) of RM, in the transition period, can be used only 8 allocations. For 6 allocations, the realization is possible only in case of switching off of analogue TV stations.

 

To create (in transition period) the first national coverage (A) can be used TV channels with technical parameters, according to

Table 1 :

 

To create (in transition period) the second national coverage (B) can be used TV channels with technical parameters,

according to Table 2:

Digital broadcasting allows a more efficient usage of radio frequency spectrum, in comparison with analogue TV, as far as via 1 digital channel can be transmitted 8 and more TV programs, while in 1 analogue channel – only 1 TV program. Gain from this so-called "digital dividend" (DD) must be carefully analyzed and used in the most optimal way.

Digital dividend

NRFC analyzed the mutual influence of two services - digital terrestrial television and mobile terrestrial, in the same frequency band, planned by RRC-06 for the digital TV (790-862 MHz).

The results of this analysis are shown in the next slides.

Digital dividend

The interference zone for the terminal mobile receivers LTE (regime FDD) in RM from the DVB-T transmitters of Ukraine (TVC 61 - 64)

The interference zone for the DVB-T receivers (fixed reception (red) and mobile (blue)) on TV channels 61-64 in Ukraine from the transmitters of LTE Base stations of RM

LTE vs. DVB-T

The interference zone for the Base stations LTE (regime FDD) in RM from the DVB-T transmitters of Ukraine (TVC 66 - 69)

LTE vs. DVB-T (cont.)

Thank you for your attention!

Questions?