DVB-H is technology of mobile broadcasting

DVB-H in Russia

As of October, 2010 there are no commercial networks of mobile TV in Russia – test operation of technology since the end of 2009 is conducted by Dominanta companies (subsidiary company of VimpelCom) and Centaur (structure of Skartel).

Deployment of networks in Moscow

In October, 2010 the State Radio Frequency Commission (SCRF) authorized deployment of networks of mobile television of the DVB-H standard in Moscow. In the promulgated solution the commission emphasizes that it of a measure for protection against a noise, DVB-H networks created by radiation, should accept cablemen. At the same time the priority of different networks of television is defined. The highest status will be had by networks of radio digital television of the DVB-N standard, following on priority will be mobile – DVB-H and, at last, the lowest priority is given cable to which prohibited to complain.

The researches of SCRF on deployment of experimental networks of mobile television of the DVB-H standard conducted in Moscow showed that these networks create noises as for the subscriber equipment of cable TV (TVs and prefixes, and for cable networks). At the same time approximately to 15% of the Moscow apartments, irrespective of their provision in relation to the DVB-H stations, there is no technical capability to eliminate these noises.

Redistribution of TV channels in the cable networks is recognized the only way to avoid noises from mobile TV (from frequency zones in which there are noises from mobile television, in the frequency zones free from these noises). According to the decision of the commission, in noise-free frequency channels operators of cable television should carry out work on transfer of broadcasting. For example, if noises from mobile TV are created in the 5th and 10th frequency channels of a cable network, broadcasts of these channels need to be transferred to other frequency zones of a cable – only reconfiguration of the equipment for this purpose will be required.

At the same time cablemen have no right to make a claim to operators of mobile TV for creation of these noises. From now on in hierarchy of television standards the cable television is in the third place – after radio digital and mobile. The Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications Igor Shchegolev noted that "degree of priority operedelyatsya by prospects and novelty of the implemented technologies".

The decision made by SCRF opens an opportunity for the operator companies to submit applications for radio frequencies and licenses for provision of services of mobile television in Moscow. It is planned that similar researches on compatibility of mobile television with cable will be conducted also in other regions to the middle of 2011.

Technical description

The DVB-H standard is logical continuation of the DVB-T(Digital Video Broadcasting — Terrestrial) standard with support of the additional opportunities meeting the requirements for portable mobile devices with self-contained supply.

Structure of a frame in DVB-H

For reduction of an expense of a power supply of batteries of portable devices the technology of time slicing time slicing using which datagrams are transferred to IP by small sets of packets in time frames is used. Each of such sets can reach up to two megabits of data, including the adjusting code in which on each 191 bits of useful data 64 bits of the adjusting code protected by Read-Solomon's code are necessary. The accepting device turns on only in those intervals in which there is a transfer of the data sets corresponding to the selected canal on which the accepting device is configured. During this short interval the data which are transferred with a high speed can be placed in the buffer of the accepting device which may contain both the loaded data, and the played stream video.

Extent of economy of battery power of a power supply of the accepting device depends on a ratio of time of its work in a status of acceptance and wait state. At broadcast of ten and more services extent of economy of a power supply of the accepting device can reach 90%.

In the DVB-SH standard acceptance of radio services was finished that can be considered as DVB-H evolution.

DVB-H is developed for work in the following frequencies:

• VHF-III (170 — 230 MHz (or part of this range));
• UHF-IV/V (470 — 862 MHz (or part of this range));
• L (1.452-1.492 GHz).

It is expected that in the DVB-SH and DVB-H2 standards which will appear in the near future the list of holding frequencies will be expanded.

DVB-H can exist in one multiplex with DVB-T.

Standards of DVB-H

Main DVB-H standard:

• ETSI EN 302 304, DVB-H — Transmission System for Handheld Terminals

The technical reports DVB concerning DVB-H:

• ETSI TR 102,377, Implementation Guidelines for DVB-H Services (creation of the services based on DVB-H)
• ETSI TR 102,377, Validation Task Force Report (results of experiments for the purpose of confirmation of specifications of DVB-H)

The listed above documents are developed and published by the ETSI organization.

Documentation of DVB-H constructed on the basis of other DVB standards:

• ETSI EN 301,192, Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); DVB specifications for data broadcasting (determination of the different concepts relating to data transmission in the DVB system)
• ETSI EN 300,468, Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); Specifications for Service Information (SI) in DVB systems (the standards concerning metadata in the DVB system)
• ETSI EN 300 744, Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); Framing structure, channel coding and modulation for digital terrestrial television (спецификации DVB-T)

IPDC

IPDC (Internet Protocol Datacasting) based on network of broadcasting DVB-H was originally developed as a number of specifications for work at the physical layer of DVB-H, but finally was used at higher levels in all systems of digital TV broadcasting, including DVB-SH. Generally, these specifications define what should be delivered as it should be delivered, its description and as it should be protected. They cover all system architecture, describe PSI/SI signaling (data of services) transferred in tables, the electronic guide on ESG services (Electronic Service Guide), the protocol of content delivery (CDP) and protocols of protection and acquisition of services (SPP). Almost all these specifications were published as the ETSI standards. The full range of specifications of DVB-IPDC is available on the website dvb-h.org. [2]

IPDC standards

Standards and technical reports on DVB-IPDC:

• ETSI TS 102 470, IP Datacast over DVB-H: PSI/SI
• ETSI A096, IP Datacast over DVB-H: Set of Specifications for Phase 1
• ETSI TR 102, 473 v1.1.1 IP Datacast over DVB-H: Use Cases and Services
• ETSI TR 102, 469 v1.1.1 IP Datacast over DVB-H: Architecture
• ETSI TS 102, 471 v1.2.1 IP Datacast over DVB-H: Electronic Service Guide (ESG)
• ETSI A112, Electronic Service Guide (ESG) Implementation Guidelines
• ETSI A100, IP Datacast over DVB-H: Service Purchase and Protection (SPP)
• ETSI TS 102 472, IP Datacast over DVB-H: Content Delivery Protocols (CDP)
• ETSI A113, Content Delivery Protocols (CDP) Implementation Guidelines

These documents are available on the website [dvb-h.org].

Devices

• E-TEN — glofiish V900
• Garmin — nuvi 900T (Only in Italy)
• Gigabyte — GSmart t600 (support of DVB-T, DVB-H, T-DMB and DAB)
• LG — U900, KB620, KU950, U960, KB770, HB620T
• Motorola — A680i
• Nokia — 7710 (the experimental version of DVB-H), N92[4], N77[5], N96[6], 5330 Mobile TV Edition[7], SU-33W (with external Bluetooth receiver) [8]
• Samsung — SGH-P910, SGH-P920, SGH-P930, SGH-P940, SGH-P960, SGH-F510
• Philips — HotMAN2
• Quantum
• Sagem — My Mobile TV, My Mobile TV2
• ZTE — N7100, F912, F908, F928(3 quarter 2008), F900 (the first quarter 2009)

Development tools

• The open-source AMUSE DVB-H tools[9] is instruments of generation DVB-H of a signal from one or more IP of flows.

DVB-H2

Development of DVB-H2 standard had to begin at the end of 2007 and end in 2008. Now the standard is not adopted yet. It is expected that use of DVB-H2 will begin in 2010.

Perhaps DVB-H2 and DVB-T2 specifications will be interconnected.