Mobile Broadcast Solutions
OVERVIEW
With billions of receivers in operation, Broadcast TV is by far the most widely deployed multimedia application in the world. The average consumer spends 3 to 4 hours every day watching TV, and popular TV programs are an integral part of our lives. Bringing TV to mobile users is a logical step for every mobile network operator and every broadcast TV operator. However, turning mobile TV into a successful business requires special attention.
Bringing TV to mobile handsets already started with the deployments of 3G networks. However, such deployments operate in “unicast” mode, where each viewer in a cell requires dedicated bandwidth. Considering the cost and scarcity of bandwidth, such solutions are appropriate for video-on-demand and pay-TV programs with a limited number of viewers. They do not scale to large numbers of viewers.
For a truly mass-market mobile TV business, you need multicast / broadcast solutions. With this operating mode, transmitters emit each TV program only once, using a single radio channel shared by all receivers. This requires mobile networks implementing technologies similar to those in use within digital TV broadcasting networks.
Broadcast TV is already deployed all around the world, and portable TV sets are available for consumers. However, current broadcast TV networks are designed for fixed rooftop receiving antennas pointing at the nearest transmitter. Achieving a good image quality for moving, battery powered receivers, with small un-pointed antennas, often indoors requires specific technology.
The mobile industry teamed with the broadcast industry to design mobile TV standards. UDcast mobile broadcasting solutions are the industry reference for the DVB-H and DVB-SH standards. They are present in 80% of experimental and live mobile TV networks. UDcast Mobile Broadcasting Solutions provide the technologies that make mobile TV a reality:
- The UDcast iSplicer is an innovative solution for regional content management, including local TV channels and local advertisement. The iSplicer currently supports the DVB-T, DVB-H, and DVB-SH standards. It installs in the transmission sites and it enables substantial cost savings in the distribution network linking the head-end to the transmission sites. The iSplicer is available off-the shelf on industry-standard hardware. It is also embedded into third-party modulators and transmitters.
- The UDcast IPE-10 is the industry reference IP Encapsulator. It currently supports the DVB-H and DVB-SH standards. It listens to IP streams containing audio, video, subtitles, service guide, encryption keys, etc., and produces a Transport Stream that is ready for broadcasting by the radio transmitters.
- The UDcast IPE-Manager is the central point for configuration, operation and monitoring of a complete network or UDcast devices, including IPE-10 and iSplicer. The IPE-Manager currently supports the DVB-H and DVB-SH standards.
Figure 1 – Due to bandwidth requirements, Unicast mobile TV technology is appropriate for Video on Demand and TV programs with relatively small audiences. The only viable solution for popular TV channels is based on broadcast and multicast solutions.
Figure 2 - A complete mobile TV network includes a head-end, a distribution network and a number of transmitters. At the head-end, the UDcast IPE-10 multiplexes the audio & video content as well as auxiliary streams such as the service guide and the service protection keys. On each transmission site, the UDcast iSplicer selects the global content as well as the designated content for the local area.