[opendtv] News: UIT/ THE AGE OF DIGITAL BROADCASTING CAN BEGIN

From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2004 09:03:32 -0400
UIT/ THE AGE OF DIGITAL BROADCASTING CAN BEGIN

June 11, 2004 12:00am
Source: . Source: Financial Times Information Limited - Asia Intelligence Wi=
re.

TECH EUROPE: In his closing remarks, ITU=20
Secretary General Yoshio Utsumi noted that the=20
move from analogue to digital broadcasting "will=20
create new distribution networks that can carry a=20
wide variety of digital broadband content. And=20
the television set, which has played a key role=20
in creating our information society, is poised to=20
play an even more important role in the knowledge=20
society." He added that "digital terrestrial=20
broadcasting will be able to offer mobile=20
reception of video, internet and multimedia data.=20
The result, when combined with digital storage=20
technologies, will be applications, services and=20
information that is assessable and usable=20
anywhere at any time." A successful first step,=20
the second to follow The Regional=20
Radiocommunication Conference is a two-step=20
process. In Geneva, delegates adopted the=20
technical parameters and criteria to be used for=20
performing the planning exercises in the=20
intersessional period before the second session=20
of the conference, which is expected to take=20
place in 2005 or early 2006. The decisions taken=20
at RRC-04 will be validated during the=20
intersessional period and the second session will=20
either confirm or modify them.

A major challenge of the first conference was to=20
find ways of permitting digital broadcasting to=20
operate side-by-side with analogue broadcasting=20
without causing interference between the two.=20
According to Mr Valery Timofeev, Director of the=20
ITU Radiocommunication Bureau, the success of the=20
conference, which was characterized by a=20
"pragmatic and business-like approach to all of=20
the issues, produced a straightforward framework=20
of what is needed to ensure the introduction of=20
digital terrestrial broadcasting service, while=20
maintaining the integrity of the existing=20
analogue system." He acknowledged that there is=20
still work to be done. "We dont have all of the=20
tools in place, such as the necessary software."=20
The digital dividend According to the ITU, there=20
are many reasons for adopting digital=20
broadcasting: * the added services it can offer;=20
* the higher video and audio quality; * the=20
increased amount of data it can transit; * the=20
additional number of channels that can be=20
accommodated; * the consistency of data over long=20
distances; * the greater spectrum efficiency *=20
the types of data the signal can carry.

Digital broadcasting uses the radio-frequency=20
spectrum much more efficiently than analogue=20
broadcasting. For terrestrial television, four to=20
five digital TV programmes can be accommodated in=20
the same amount of frequency spectrum currently=20
required to transmit a single analogue TV=20
programme. The improved efficiency is known as=20
the digital dividend. The extent of this digital=20
dividend, in terms of additional frequency space=20
made available wont be known until the work of=20
the intercessional period is completed and the=20
second phase of the conference adopts the Plan.

Engineering an appropriate transition period=20
between the analogue and digital service to=20
satisfy the demands of administrations,=20
broadcasters and consumers, at the same time=20
ensuring the integrity of existing services, was=20
not a simple task. While there is demand for=20
digital broadcasting services, the financial=20
costs to the industry and the consumer were a=20
major consideration. Mr Timofeev is confident=20
that the technical and planning framework adopted=20
by the conference "will usher in the era of=20
digital broadcasting because it provides clear=20
a-priori criteria for the establishment of new=20
service, without causing undue interference to=20
existing services and at the same time it=20
provides the flexibility needed to respond to new=20
market realities such as those created by mobile=20
communications." During the transition period,=20
the existing and planned analogue assignments=20
will continue to be used and protected by the new=20
digital plan. After this period, analogue=20
assignments may continue to be used, provided=20
that: * protection is afforded to the new digital=20
plan and its modifications; and * no protection=20
is claimed from the new digital plan and its=20
modifications.

The period in question starts on the date of=20
entry into force of the new agreement and ends on=20
a date to be agreed by the second session of the=20
conference. Two options were identified with=20
respect to the second date:

- Option 1: As early as possible and preferably=20
no later than 2015; however, longer or shorter=20
transition periods may be agreed multilaterally=20
provided they do not affect other administrations=20
concerned.

- Option 2: No earlier than 2028 and no later=20
than 2038; however, shorter transition periods=20
may be agreed multilaterally.

It is up to each administration to decide on the=20
date as to when its analogue transmissions will=20
cease. The date of entry into force of the new=20
agreement, to be decided by the second session,=20
should not be earlier than 12 months after the=20
end of the second session.

Aeronautical radionavigation, safety first=20
Protecting the aeronautical radionavigation=20
service from harmful interference during any=20
transition to a digital broadcasting service was=20
one of the priority considerations for the=20
Conference. There are several types of systems=20
that need to be protected. These include: * the=20
short-range radionavigation system (RSBN); * air=20
traffic control secondary radars, including=20
ground radar and aircraft responder; * air=20
traffic control aerodrome and rout primary radars.

Work on developing protection criteria has=20
already begun, but it will be challenging, as=20
several services including broadcasting operate=20
in the same frequency band used by the=20
aeronautical radionavigation service. Increased=20
demand for frequency space for this service could=20
have an impact on the integrity of the=20
aeronautical radionavigation service. The=20
Conference decided to carry out additional=20
studies urgently, in order to develop the=20
protection criteria for these types of=20
radionavigation systems. A report will be made to=20
the second session of the Conference. .end=20
(paragraph)<<TECH EUROPE -- 06/10/04>>

<< Copyright =A92004 . Source: Financial Times=20
Information Limited - Asia Intelligence Wire.
 
 
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[opendtv] News: UIT/ THE AGE OF DIGITAL BROADCASTING CAN BEGIN

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