DVB-T Selection criteria

Bureau Telecommunicatie en Post has chosen the most widely used digital TV standard in the world to be implemented in Curaçao: Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T). This standard is chosen based on the following criteria:

Economies of scale

At this moment, the DVB-T and DVB-T2 systems have been adopted or deployed in more than in 140 countries worldwide as the digital broadcasting standard. Similar systems are the ATSC and ISDB-T. ATSC is currently adopted or deployed in 8 countries including the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The ISDB-T standard has been adopted or deployed in 14 countries including Japan, Brazil and other South American countries. Due to the extend and availability of the needed technical equipment, the costs for introduction of DVB-T will be substantially lower than the introduction of ATSC or ISDB-T.

Efficient use of frequency

Efficient use of frequency space: the DVB-T system is originally set up to broadcast multiple simultaneous programs through one frequency channel, while ATSC was set up to broadcast one HDTV program on one frequency channel. The DVB-T system was set up from the viewpoint of efficient use of terrestrial frequencies. The DVB-T system is developed to make use of the so-called Single Frequency Network (SFN), where the same frequency is being reused for the broadcasting of the broadcast signal. This is why more than one channel can be broadcasted on the same frequency, which will add to better coverage over the island while having also better reception of the signal by viewers.

Next to SFN, DVB-T offers the possibility for the introduction of a Multi Frequency Network (MFN), where different transmitters transmit on separate frequencies. Each frequency is used for a certain coverage area. However, BT&P decided to not choose this option as it will lead to non-efficient use of the frequency spectrum.

Technical consideration

The used technology of the DVB-T system (known as ‘COFDM transmission scheme) has initially proven to be more robust than the ATSC-system, so it is better protected against interference. Next, the DVB-T system is more flexible as it is possible to adapt certain technical settings (the system parameters) so that the reception area can be changed and improved. The required signal level for digital television is 20 dB lower than for analogueueue television. This is why a normal indoor antenna will suffice for homes near a transmitting tower.

Relevant standards and diversity

The DVB-T system is part of a greater family of standards, of which DVB is used in other platforms. The most important are: DVB-C for cable television, DVB-S for satellite television, DVB-H for mobile television and DVB-IPTV for television over broadband internet. The advantage of this is that changing or communicating between these different platforms is easier and cheaper. Next to the ATSC-system, these standards are also used in the United States. Additionally, the DVB-T system is designed from scratch to have the possibility for reception in different ways, such as portable and mobile devices. Also other aspects as interactivity and data services played an important role in the design and developments of DVB. Meanwhile, these developments have grown into its own standards.

Market indication

Apart from the previous reasons, the introduction of the DVB-T system has been requested by local broadcasters, such as the Antilliaanse Telivisie Maatschappij N.V., and Wireless Telecommunication Network (on Sint-Martin). Reason for this was the technical knowledge is available on the islands and therefore adoption of the system is relatively easy. Pay-Tv by TDS is already using the previous mentioned DVB-C format.

The migration to digital television is planned for 2014-2015 and all television stations will start parallel broadcasting of analogueue and digital signals. This will make a flexible transition from analogueue to digital possible. TeleCuraçao is one of the leading companies in digital television and is actively transmitting in digital format with three program channels since 2008.

(BT&P publication period: 2013)