Digital Terrestrial Networks
Presentation Outline
• Sentech Experience in Digital Terrestrial
• The Future of Terrestrial Broadcasting is
Digital
• Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) as
Stimulus for Growth
• Features
TERRESTRIAL BROADCASTING
Digital Terrestrial Television
Sentech Experience in Digital Terrestrial
Digital Radio (DAB)
– On air since 1997
– 7 Services on 1 Transmitter
– Coverage over Pretoria & Johannesburg ( 18% population
coverage)
– Single Frequency Network established in 2001
Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT)
– On air since 2000
– Mobile and Portable trials
– 5 Services on 1 Transmitter
– Coverage over Johannesburg ( 12% population coverage)
Digital Terrestrial Television
The Future of Terrestrial Broadcasting is
Digital
• Global trend to Digital (Internet, GSM, etc)
• Telecommunication has already gone digital
• Satellite Broadcasting has migrated to digital
• Digital Radio (DAB) and Television (DTT) Networks
are rolling out world-wide
• Growing market demand for more choice, quality,
flexibility, mobility and interactivity
• Analogue Networks cannot deliver
Digital Terrestrial Networks
DTT as Stimulus for Growth
• DTT creates capacity for more services through
efficient use of spectrum
• DTT acts as stimulus to creative talent in content
and service sectors
• Allows new services to launch at lower
transmission costs
• DTT launch will stimulate local receiver
manufacturing and distribution sectors
Digital Terrestrial Television
Features
• Spectrum Efficiency
• Multi-channel Capability
• Immunity to Disturbance
• Portable & Mobile TV
• Enhanced services (such as
Electronic Programme
Guide)
• Lower Power Operation
Digital Terrestrial Television
Networks
Features
• Spectrum Efficiency
– Spectrum a finite national
resource
– Digital makes far more
efficient use of the available
spectrum
– Allows for expansion and
new services
Digital Terrestrial Television
ANALOGUE
DIGITAL
Digital Terrestrial Television
ANALOGUE
Analogue TV
• 8 MHz Spectrum
• One Service
• New Frequency per site
DIGITAL
Digital Terrestrial TV
• 8 MHz Spectrum
• 6 or more Services
• Same frequency re-used in
Single Frequency Networks
Digital Terrestrial Television
Features
• Spectrum Efficiency
• Multi-channel Capability
• Immunity to Disturbance
• Portable & Mobile TV
• Enhanced services (such as
Electronic Programme
Guide)
• Lower Power Operation
TERRESTRIAL BROADCASTING
Digital Terrestrial Television
Features
• Spectrum Efficiency
• Multi-channel Capability
• Immunity to Disturbance
• Portable & Mobile TV
• Enhanced services (such as
Electronic Programme
Guide)
• Lower Power Operation
Digital Terrestrial Television
Features - Immunity to Disturbance
ANALOGUE
• Received signal quality
affected by environment
DIGITAL
• Excellent signal quality
• Robust reception
• Basic low-cost antenna
Digital Terrestrial Television
Features
• Spectrum Efficiency
• Multi-channel Capability
• Immunity to Disturbance
• Portable & Mobile TV
• Enhanced services (such as
Electronic Programme
Guide)
• Lower Power Operation
Digital Terrestrial Television
Features - Portable & Mobile TV
ANALOGUE (Mobile)
• Received signal quality
affected by environment
DIGITAL (Mobile)
• Excellent signal quality
• Robust reception
Digital Terrestrial Television
Features
• Spectrum Efficiency
• Multi-channel Capability
• Immunity to Disturbance
• Portable & Mobile TV
• Enhanced services (such as
Electronic Programme
Guide)
• Lower Power Operation
Digital Terrestrial Television
Or?
Digital Terrestrial Television
Features
• Spectrum Efficiency
• Multi-channel Capability
• Immunity to Disturbance
• Portable & Mobile TV
• Enhanced services (such as
Electronic Programme
Guide)
• Lower Power Operation
Digital Terrestrial Television
Features - Lower Power Operation
ANALOGUE
• UHF Analogue TV
Transmitter at Sentech
Tower
• 20 kW
DIGITAL
• UHF DTT Transmitter at
Sentech Tower
• 2 kW
• Equivalent coverage at 10%
of Power
Digital Terrestrial TV
Networks
Features - Lower Power Operation
DTT AT 2 kW
ANALOGUE TV AT 20 kW
Thank you for
your attention