New Technologies

Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT)

DTT utilises digital technology to broadcast a greater number of channels and better quality video and sound than current analogue transmissions using a terrestrial network. It is an alternative to using a cable or satellite dish connection.

DTT is transmitted on radio frequencies through the airwaves that are similar to standard analog television. Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial (DVB-T) is a European standard commonly used in DTT networks.

A DTT pilot was launched in Ireland by the Department for Communications Marine and Natural Resources (DCMNR) in August 2006 across 1000 homes on the east coast between Dublin and Dundalk. The trial currently uses MPEG–2 coding but plans are in place to use the more advanced and spectrum efficient MPEG-4 coding in later phases of the trial which will facilitate High Definition Services. For further information please visit the DCENR website.

On the 31st August 2007 Comreg published a consulatation entitled “Licensing Digital Terrestrial Television” (doc 07/65) which consulted on proposed licence condition for the DTT Multiplex licences to be issued to RTÉ and the BCI under the Wireless and Telegraphy Act, 1926, and the Broadcasting (Amendment) Act, 2007. ComReg having reviewed the submissions received carefully issued a response to consultation on 9th November 2007 (doc 07/90). In this Document ComReg sets out the terms of the licences it intends to issue to RTÉ and BCI in respect of DTT multiplexes.

Proceeding from this, on the 9th November 2007, Comreg published doc 07/90a - License for Digital Terrestrial Television and doc 07/90b - Technical conditions for Digital Terrestrial Television, which now gives ComReg the means to license Digital Terrestrial Television multiplexes to RTÉ and the BCI

Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB):

Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) or Eureka 147 gets its name from the one hundred and forty-seventh project of the European framework for technical research and development projects (Eureka). The project was to develop a new digital transmission system for radio, which would overcome the shortcomings of the traditional analogue radio networks. DAB has received ITU recognition as a world standard for Digital Radio.

Until now, analogue radio signals such as those on FM (VHF Band II) or MW (MF) have been subject to interference on their way from the transmitter to a listeners radio particularly if the listener is on the move. This interference can generally be heard as fading, lack of signal and audible distortion. It can be caused or exacerbated by various factors including mountains, high-rise buildings, electrical equipment, time of day and weather conditions. All of this can result in less than perfect reception of a listener’s favourite station.

Aside from distortion-free reception and high Quality sound, DAB offers further advantages as it has been developed with multimedia applications in mind. DAB carries not only audio, but also text, graphics and data. For example, this could allow an album sleeve to be displayed along with the artist’s discography while the music was playing, or could allow a stock ‘ticker’ to be transmitted during a financial or news programme.

Mobile TV

Mobile TV is part of an overall trend in convergence between broadcasting and mobile technology that is being driven in many cases by IP technology, and advanced systems platforms such as IMS (IP Multi-media Systems). Some key attributes of a mobile broadcasting technology are:

Mobility of users:

Wireless mobile systems must be able to operate in a dynamic radio environment.

Device size:

Handheld devices must be small to enable mobility, yet large enough to allow for an acceptable viewing area (typical mobile screen sizes: just over 6cm diagonal). Consumers expect small mobile devices, but will also require suitable viewing screens.

Power consumption/battery life:

TV screens can be heavy consumers of electrical power, limiting the battery life of a mobile device. Power consumption is therefore a key design factor.

Mobile TV technology is available today operating to a number of competing standards. They mostly are based on existing digital broadcasting standards taking into account special requirements for mobile operation. In addition to mobile content over 3G, digital mobile broadcast standards include among others Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS), Digital Video Broadcasting to handheld (DVB-H), Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), MediaFLO, Digital Audio Broadcasting Internet Protocol (DAB-IP), Integrated Services Digital Broadcast – Terrestrial (ISDB-T).

ComReg released a Briefing Note in 2006 on Mobile TV, Doc 06/62.

A DVB-H trial is currently taking place in the greater Dublin Area. DVB-H is a new technology which will enable users to receive live TV and radio channels broadcast to suitable mobile phones. It is an adaptation of the DVB-T technology (see section on DTT previously), the main differences being, that in DVB-H the signal is transmitted in bursts in order to conserve the battery of the mobile device. DVB-H also utilizes Forward Error Correction (FEC) which is essential for boosting handheld reception.