General overview of DVB T2 standard

DVB T2 tutorial

The  DVB consortium (based in Europe) elaborated the DVB T2 technologie as an extension of the existing standard DVB-T, in order to allow a better use of the spectral resources by integrating edge cutting signal processing technologies. In the same frequency bandwidth, the expected gains give up to 50% additional bitrate.

DVB T2 baseline features

The specification is developed primarily for fixed roof-top reception antennas and has an identical frequency spectrum channel characteristics as DVB-T allowing a backward compatibility with the existing transmission infrastructure...

Like DVB-T, DVB T2 uses OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplex) modulation and provides a toolkit with different numbers of carriers (1k, 2k, 4k, 8k, 16k, 32k, 16k extended, 32k extended) and modulation constellations (QPSK, 16 QAM, 64 QAM, 256QAM). For error protection, DVB T2 uses LDPC (low density parity check) and BCH (Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquengham) coding. A new technique, known as Rotated Constellations, has been introduced to provide additional robustness in certain conditions. DVB T2 standard takes also care of transmitter equipments. In 32k particularly, high power peaks are generated and thus minimize the amplifier efficiency (or even endamage it). A special feature called PAPR (Peak Average Power Ratio) reduction has been included in the standard specifications to limit these peaks power without losing information. Download your free DVB T2 poster : Find your way in DVB T2

DVB T2 vs DVB T comparison

DVB T2 system architecture

The main differences between a DVB-T and  DVB T2 system is that the multiplexer shall be connected to a T2 gateway. This T2 gateway receives one or several multiplex e.g one per PLP from the multiplexer and encapsulates these datas into BaseBand Frames. The T2 gateway send the content to DVB T2 modulators via the T2 Modulator Interface protocol.

DVB T2 Frame structure

DVB T2 reuse the PLP or Physical Layer Pipe concept introduced in the DVB-S2 specification. A PLP is a logical channel that may carry one or multiple services. Each PLP can have a different bit rate and error protection parameters. For example, it's possible to split SD and HD services to different PLPs. An other example is the New Generation Handeld (DVB-NGH) standard that will be based on multiple PLP feature to enable broadcast mobile TV over DVB-T2.

The DVB T2 standard define several profiles:

Type A : single stream input ie. mono PLP

Type B : multi stream input i.e multi PLP.  In multi PLP mode the PLPs are time sliced. The multi PLP mode is subdivised in several modes:

                       - Type 1 : PLP having one slice per T2 frame. Allow better amount of power saving that the receiver can perform

                        - Type 2 : PLP having two or more sub-slices per T2 frame. Increase time diversity. The number of sub-slices should be as large as possible, if the receiver power saving is not an issue.

                         -Time Frequency Slicing (TFS), creates a large multiplex by combining radio-frequency channels (up to 6 frequencies) to make a single 'virtual' channel to allow efficient statistical multiplexing. The TFS is optional in the current DVB T2 specification.

                          It's possible to define the type 1 or 2 for each PLP and then to mix in a T2 frame PLPs of type 1 and PLPs of type 2.

                          The PLPs are combined into T2 Frames. A T2 Frame starts with preambule P1 and P2. The T2 framing structure is described are after

DVB T2 Modulator Interface

The T2 gateway encapsulates data into BaseBand frame. These BB frames are send to the DVB T2 modulator over a specific DVB T2 Modulator Interface protocol described hare after.

DVB T2 testing

Testing of the specification has begun in the United Kingdom. in June 2008. The BBC, together with the broadcast network operators Arqiva and National Grid Wireless, made the first DVB T2 test transmission. In September 2008 at IBC show (Amsterdam), the DVB stand presented a number of milestone technology demonstrations that highlighted the recent advancements that have been made by DVB in the area of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT). Visitors to the stand have seen for the first time H.264 encoded HD content delivered over a live end-to-end terrestrial transmission system using DVB T2 technology.

In the first DVB T2 demo, three HD channels were broadcasted in one multiplex, each coded at 11 Mbit/sec with the latest H.264 encoders. The signal was decoded using a newly developed BBC demodulator and an H.264 decoder, and then shown on an HD display.

In a second presentation, ENENSYS Technologies, NXP Semiconductors and Pace have highlighted the robust characteristics of DVB T2. The purpose of this end-to-end demonstration was to show how the standard enables the handling of the injection of noise and interference and the successful functioning of the DVB T2 signal in such environments to provide excellent reception.

The first multiple PLP live transmission was done during the plugfest hosted by Mediabroadcast in June 2010.

UK DVB T2 technical pilot

The BBC and Ofcom worked to implement the various changes required to upgrade the first multiplex located in Grenada region. Part of this implementation programme involves a DVB T2 technical pilot that is aimed at validating the DVB T2 standard and identifying a preferred transmission mode for adoption within the UK. The pilot, which involved both laboratory testing and over the air transmissions is also intended to provide a signal that those developing DVB T2 receiver equipment was able to test equipment.

Adopting the new DVB T2 standard

The British communications regulator Ofcom decided to upgrade one DTT multiplex (Multiplex B) to operate Freeview HD service using the DVB T2 and MPEG-4 standards. The upgraded multiplex will be capable of carrying the BBC, ITV and Channel4 HD service. It is expected that carriage of a 6th HD services will be possible in time. The initial services was launched at digital switchover (DSO) December 2nd of 2009, with the Granada region targeted as the first launch region (earlier DSO regions would be retrofitted), after which services will be launched alongside DSO.

In Finland, DNA Oy got license to operate two DVB T2 multiplexes. A trial was launched in December 2009 in the Lahti city. The launch in Finland was done in November 2010.

In Sweden the launch started on November 1, 2010  with five HD channels.

In Italy, Europa7 launched seven HD channels during spring 2010.

In Zambia, ZNBC launched 19 pay TV services on 1st of July 2011.

Some countries such as Austria, Turkey, Serbia, Czech republic, India, South Africa, Kenya and SADC countries, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Slovakia, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia has already adopted or are serioulsy considering  DVB T2.

Some trials also take place in Denmark, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Singapore, Thailand, Kazakhstan and Slovakia.

DVB T2 Glossary

References:

- DVB website : http://www.dvb.org/technology/standards/

- Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVB-T2

- DVB T2 fact sheet

- DVB T2 Glossary

- PAPR Reduction Methods for DVB-T2