Projects > Mobile Broadcasting

Introduction:

Emerging IP datacasting (IPDC) technology will make it possible to broadcast IP-based audio, video, data, graphics and other broadband information directly to the end user, whether at home, at work or on the move. Using IPDC, data services can be broadcast simultaneously to a large number of users ("point-to-multipoint"). Transmissions are unidirectional, but another access network can be used as a return (or interaction) channel.

IPDC is defined to be used with DVB-H (Handheld Digital Video Broadcast). But since it will be as bearer independent as possible, it should be possible to use it with other broadcast bearers with small adjustments. By choosing a suitable set of transmission parameters, the terrestial DVB-T network can be optimised for mobile reception, but coming DVB-H is more suitable for mobile reception. DVB-H is derived from DVB-T, but it introduces for example new time slicing functionality (for power saving) and better error correction. DVB-H mobile parameters give approximately an 11 Mbit/s data transfer rate on 16-QAM and 5,5 Mbit/s on QPSK modulation.

IPDC and DVB-H together open new interesting opportunities for providing IP-based mobile broadband services with other mobile access technologies. The potential applications range from entertainment to information and business services.

MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service) is an IPDC type of service that can be offered via existing GSM and UMTS cellular networks. The infrastructure gives the possibility to use an uplink channel for the interactions between the service and the user. This is not a straightforward issue in usual broadcast networks, as for exmaple conventional digital television is on a one-way system. MBMS is a solution for transferring light video and audio clips, although real streaming is also possible. For heavy duty streaming in a wide area for a large, concentrated audience DVB-H is more suitable solution. Nevertheless, MBMS is suitable method also for mass communications.