Evaluation, validation and standardization
David Gómez Barquero, a member of MCG, notes that the group has been actively involved in the evaluation, validation and standardization of new generation DVB-H / SH, DVB-T2 or DVB-NGH. At the same time, he continues, we also worked on the planning and design of the DVB-T2 network in Colombia. Thanks to this background, the United States contacted us to collaborate in the development and start-up of its new DTT standard.
Definition of the transmission channel through MIMO and Channel Bonding technologies
As for the design of the standard, the research of the MCG team focused – mainly, but not exclusively – on the definition of the transmission chain. In addition, during the process of standardization, Gómez Barquero was vice-president of the working group on modulation and codification.
The standard is almost complete, says the MCG researcher, who explains that in the standardization group, a series of tests are generated to certify both the equipment and modes of transmission.
In our case, he adds, we have developed in the laboratory an ATSC 3.0 transmission demonstrator with the most advanced modes, with MIMO technology, based on the use of multiple antennas, which doubles transmission capacity, and Channel Bonding, that allows to group several channels, also offering more capacity and better coverage.
ATSC 3.0 will allow internet-DTT convergence
The new ATSC 3.0 standard is designed for Ultra HD transmissions and will work over IP, allowing Internet-DTT convergence. It has been created, explains Gómez Barquero, to be able to transmit mobile services – in HD to vehicles or tablets – and fixed at the same time – for example, from UltraHD to fixed.
In addition, among its advantages, ATSC 3.0 will allow the freeing of DTT spectrum, which can be used for mobile communications.
Commercial transmissions, first in South Korea and, in 2019, in the United States
The commercial transmissions of this technology will start in the coming months in South Korea, with a view to the 2018 Winter Olympics. The United States is expected to start deploying this technology in 2019.
Sony, Panasonic, Samsung or LG, by the hand of the UPV
Together with the UPV, in this process of standardization and commissioning of ATSC 3.0, participate the main TV manufacturers -Sony, Panasonic, Samsung or LG, among others-, the most important television operators in the United States, as well as research institutes of international reference in the field of DTT around the world. At the national level, researchers from the University of the Basque Country are also part of the project.
Colaboración con el ETRI y ENENSYS
Among all the project participants, the South Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), with which iTEAM-UPV has been collaborating for more than three years, is also noteworthy.
At the moment, the ETRI investigates a pioneering transmission technique that allows to transmit fixed and mobile services in the same bandwidth, which will allow to offer to the user contents with much greater quality and convergent services based on IP.
In recent days, an ETRI delegation has visited the MCG facilities, being able to attend the tests of the technological demonstrator developed by the Valencian researchers for ATSC 3.0 transmission.
The ATSC 3.0 prototype – developed in collaboration with the French company ENENSYS, which has provided MCG with a series of software configurable radio equipment called RFcatcher – is being developed within the framework of the research project of the national R&D&I plan E.T. Broadcast (TEC2014-56483-R), funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness with the help of European FEDER funds.