Flexible Satellite Direct-to-Home Services With Layered-Division Multiplexing

Abstract

Layered Division Multiplexing (LDM) has demonstrated increased data rate capacity for wireless applications where the service bitrates being multiplexed are unbalanced. Current Direct-To-Home (DTH) broadcasting satellite standards (DVB-S2 and DVB-S2X) include Variable Coding and Modulation (VCM) mode. VCM provides the opportunity to deliver different services on a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) basis and in consequence target different reception conditions with a single carrier. This article proposes the combination of the tools provided by DVB-S2X with LDM for satellite broadcast and communication systems. This article describes use cases where multiplexing schemes can be beneficial in comparison with VCM (TDM) approach. The use cases include the delivery of High Definition (HD) and Ultra High Definition (UHD) TV services to customers as well as additional communication services. The performance of the proposal is evaluated with simulations under different channels, including the impact of satellite equipment non-linearities. Analysis shows that LDM provides considerable gain in comparison with VCM in both AWGN and non-linear satellite channels.