Regional Contents in a National DVB-T2 SFN: A Novel Approach Based on DVB-SIS
To include regional contents in a national single-frequency network (SFN), the RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana has studied and tested a system configuration that benefits from the multiple physical layer pipes (PLPs) of Digital Video Broadcasting-Second Generation Terrestrial (DVB-T2) standard in a laboratory. According to the proposed solution, in each region, the national programs are transmitted in one PLP, whereas other k PLPs convey the regional contents of a macroregional SFN, formed by a region and the (k–1) surrounding ones. The DVB Single Illumination System standard can be a valid technical solution to distribute such complex signals to SFN transmitters via satellite or terrestrial contribution links in a cost-effective way. This article presents the rules adopted to map content into DVB-T2 PLPs and their application to the Italian case. Furthermore, it describes the end-to-end laboratory setup and the results of tests carried out, showing that a national SFN can broadcast both national and regional contents with high flexibility and spectrum efficiency.
- Print ISSN
- 1545-0279
- Electronic ISSN
- 2160-2492
- Published
- 2020-05
- Content type
- Original Research
- Keywords
- Digital video broadcasting (DVB), DVB Single Illumination System (DVB-SIS), DVB Second Generation Terrestrial (DVB-T2), multi-physical layer pipe (M-PLP), regional contents, single frequency network (SFN)
- DOI
- 10.5594/JMI.2020.2979621