EUROPE PREPARES BROADCASTING

CEPT strategies for the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting First steps towards digital broadcasting

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DIGITAL

SWITCHOVER

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After the introduction of the compact disk in 1982, it became clear that digital broadcasting was inevitable. In 1986, a European project was launched to develop digital audio broadcasting (DAB). Later European projects followed to develop digital Jan Doeven video broadcasting (DVB). These research projects resulted in a specification in 1994 and a specification for the terrestrial version of the DVB family of systems (DVB-T) in 1997. From the start, the development of digital radio and television has been supported by the European Commission the executive body of the European Union national governments and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) facilitated the introduction of digital radio (T-DAB) in Europe by organizing a frequency planning meeting in Wiesbaden (Germany) in 1995. At that meeting, CEPT countries managed to make a frequency plan for a two-fold nationwide T-DAB coverage. The T-DAB plan was extended with a third nationwide coverage in Maastricht (the Netherlands) in 2002. When preparations for the introduction of digital television started, it became clear that, in principle, it was possible to use the Stockholm Plan of 1961 to coordinate digital terrestrial television internationally. However, it was felt that technical criteria, calculation methods and administrative procedures in addition to the Stockholm Agreement would be very useful. For that reason, CEPT organized a conference in Chester (United Kingdom) in July 1997, where a frequency coordination agreement was reached for the introduction of DVBT. The Chester agreement does not contain a frequency plan. It encompasses a set of technical criteria and procedures for frequency coordination of DVB-T stations to be used in addition to the provisions of the Stockholm Agreement. The Wiesbaden and Chester Agreements paved the way for the introduction of digital terrestrial broadcasting and fourteen European countries have operational T-DAB or DVB-T services on air (for more information see www.ero.dk).

CEPT strategies for the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting can be summarized in these words:

Broadcasting using a fully digital infrastructure Orderly transition from analogue to digital broadcasting Regulatory frameworks in time Protection of other services as far as needed Flexible planning approach Solid and proven technical basis "Future proof" frequency plan.

A fully digital broadcasting infrastructure CEPT has long held the view that, eventually, broadcasting will be digital. The "Detailed Spectrum Investigation in the frequency range 29.7 960 MHz", which CEPT carried out in 1994, indicated the need for a revision of the Stockholm Plan by 2005. In January 2000, European countries wrote to ITU underlining that: "Efficient implementation of terrestrial television broadcasting will, however, not be possible on the basis of the existing frequency assignment plan contained in the European Broadcasting Agreement, Stockholm 1961". These countries asked ITU to organize a conference to revise the Stockholm Plan. Their request resulted in an ITU Council decision to convene a Regional Radiocommunication Conference (RRC) for the planning of the digital broadcasting service in the Bands III (174 230 MHz) and IV and V (470 862 MHz). The Council decision also directed that this conference be held in two sessions one in 2004 and the other in 2005. At the two-session conference, the European countries intend to make a frequency plan for a fully digital infrastructure with T-DAB and DVB-T in Band III and DVB-T in Bands IV and V. Transition from analogue to digital broadcasting At present, there are more than 90 000 analogue TV stations in operation or planned in the European countries. The majority of these are small fill-in stations; nevertheless the administrations concerned require that analogue TV reception will not be unacceptably interfered by new analogue or digital TV stations. This high number of existing stations poses severe restrictions on the introduction of digital broadcasting. In most countries, a large-scale introduction of digital broadcasting is, therefore, only possible after analogue TV has been switched off. As it is the intention to make a plan for digital broadcasting, most European countries will not take into account the protection of and interference from analogue TV stations in the establishment of the new plan. However, as long as the existing stations are in operation, the services need to be protected and bilateral or multilateral agreements on the introduction of digital broadcasting will be necessary. Launch of digital television differs considerably from country to country. Consequently, analogue switch-off dates will also vary. Some European countries consider analogue switch-off as early as 2007. In general, a gradual switchover to digital is foreseen, by introducing digital broadcasting and switching off analogue TV area by area, often with a short simulcast period. In some countries, notably Germany

and Switzerland, a great number of analogue TV transmitters have already been switched off as part of the transition process. The need for a transition from analogue to digital broadcasting has been confirmed at the political level. In 2002, the European Parliament adopted a resolution that insists on successful introduction of digital television in Europe. In this resolution, the Parliament also expresses its conviction that DVB, in conjunction with the multimedia home platform (the part of the DVB system that makes interactivity possible), is an essential instrument for access to services of the information society. In September 2003, the European Commission issued a Communication in which it concluded that: Switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting is a complex process with farreaching implications. Experiences will widely differ from one national context to the other, given the different starting positions of Member States. The EU will monitor national switchover policies, while ensuring their compatibility with Community law, and continue supporting digital broadcasting developments. Nozema Regulatory framework for digital broadcasting in time Timing of the first and second sessions of the ITU Regional Radiocommunication Conference is of particular importance to the European countries. If the conference were to be too early, there would not have been sufficient experience with digital broadcasting. This could lead to technical and commercial expectations that are not supported by practical results and to technical Mobile reception in a tram. A fully criteria that have not been tested in practice. digital broadcasting infrastructure may well change the way we travel On the other hand, if the conference were to be too late, there would have been too many existing digital stations, which would make it difficult to develop a new plan. Ideally, all existing digital stations should form part of the new plan. In order to make an efficient plan, it may be necessary to change characteristics of these stations. But changing characteristics of existing stations may depend on other constraints such as switching off analogue stations or modifying other analogue or digital stations. In order to avoid, as much as possible, this kind of problems and to make use of the benefits of a new digital plan, European countries are of the opinion that the second session should be held in 2006. The interval between the two sessions should be used to pre-coordinate the digital broadcasting requirements as much as possible. Protection of other services as far as needed Parts of Bands III, IV and V are allocated to other services than broadcasting. In the planning process and in the implementation of the new plan, only stations of coprimary services may claim protection with regard to the broadcasting service. However, European countries do not necessarily wish to take account of all other

services having primary status in the establishment of the new plan. Investigations within CEPT have shown that, for instance, fixed and aeronautical radio navigation services in Band V will phase out in many countries in the coming years. In these cases, it is preferable to plan the relevant parts of the bands for digital broadcasting and to protect the other services only in the implementation phase of the plan as long as the particular service is still in operation. Flexible planning approach European countries have different broadcasting market situations. In some countries, cable and satellite are the dominant means of delivering television services. In others, the public relies mainly on reception of terrestrial television networks. Consequently, the business plans for the introduction of digital terrestrial broadcasting differ from country to country. Therefore, planning methods should allow for a variety of planning approaches. For example, it should be possible to plan for roof-top reception, for indoor or for mobile reception, using single frequency networks (SFN) or multiple frequency networks (MFN), depending on the needs of the administrations concerned.

Digital terrestrial broadcasting is expected to offer mobile reception of video, Internet and multimedia data, making applications and services accessible and usable anywhere, anytime

Solid basis for establishing the new plan Recommendations of the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) containing technical criteria for planning of digital broadcasting and the ITU-R Recommendation regarding radio wave propagation have been updated regularly taking into account results of measurements in several countries. These Recommendations form a solid basis for the planning of digital broadcasting.

The frequency planning process is complicated, as it has to take into account thousands of requirements that may vary considerably in their technical characteristics and size of coverage Nozema area. An efficient computerized method is essential for carrying out planning exercises in the period between the two sessions of RRC and for developing the final plan during the five weeks of the second session. At the T-DAB planning meeting in Wiesbaden and the Maastricht meeting mentioned earlier, a planning method was successfully applied that consists of an iterative process of calculating compatibility of requirements (analysis process) and investigating possible frequencies (synthesis). In addition, administrations had the possibility to override the findings of the computerized analysis process by means of bilateral agreements taking into account more detailed knowledge of local conditions, such as terrain features and population distribution. This planning process, together with the possibility to make administrative agreements, is proposed for use at RRC.

A future proof plan

It is to be expected that broadcasting technology will develop in the coming decades as it did in the past. The new plan should not restrict these developments. A proven mechanism for taking account of developments is a modification procedure based on agreements by consultation with potentially affected countries. Such a procedure is part of all broadcasting agreements. Moreover, European countries propose the so-called mask concept. In this concept the entries in the digital plan are considered as a spectrum mask. Administrations may authorize use of other systems instead of the original entry in the plan, provided that they cause no more interference and seek no more protection than the plan entry. A third method for allowing developments is allotment planning. With this method, a right to use a certain frequency in a specified area is obtained without specifying precisely transmitter characteristics, as is the case in the traditional assignment planning. The allotment defines the area to be covered and the allowed outgoing interference. Allotments are particularly useful if transmitter sites are not known at the time of planning, or when it is expected that later additional transmitters in an SFN are needed. Common, harmonized CEPT positions CEPT aims to harmonize European views and to submit European Common Proposals (ECP) to RRC. At the time of publishing this article, CEPT had submitted fifteen ECPs, which have been co-signed by 27 to 34 European administrations. These ECPs to the conference cover the issues described in this article. CEPT has adopted an approach of full openness in its preparatory activities for RRC. All documents are publicly accessible at www.ero.dk and members of organizations with which CEPT has a cooperation agreement, including other regional telecommunication organizations, are welcome to meetings of the CEPT groups mandated to prepare for RRC. The Regional Radiocommunication Conference is an essential step in the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. The preparatory work for RRC-04 has been performed in good cooperation between representatives from CEPT countries, organizations such as DVB, EICTA (the European Information, Communications and Consumer Electronics Technology Association), Digitag, WorldDAB, and in particular EBU, which provided most of the technical basis on which the European proposals have been developed. Biography Jan Doeven is Senior Technical Advisor of Nozema in the Netherlands. On behalf of the Netherlands Radiocommunications Agency, he is the Chairman of the CEPT Project Team FM24 that carried out the preparations for RRC.

The business plans for the introduction of digital terrestrial broadcasting differ from country to country. Planning methods should, therefore, allow for a variety of planning approaches. For example, it should be possible to plan for rooftop, indoor or mobile reception, using single frequency networks or multiple frequency networks, depending on the needs of the administrations concerned