Interference Management for the Coexistence of DTTV and LTE Systems within the Proposed Digital Dividend Band in Nigeria

B I Bakare,S U Nnebe,V E Idigo

doi:10.24018/ejece.2021.5.6.366

Abstract

This paper seeks to present the Interference Management for the Coexistence of DTTV and LTE Systems within the proposed digital dividend band in Nigeria. The study focused on LTE Down-link (DL) signal from the nearest cell site interfering with the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTTV) fixed outdoor receiving antenna in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The qualitative signal analysis of the DTTV systems is essential as DTTV system cannot start to operate in the newly formed frequency band without the evaluation of the possible harmful influence of the coexisting systems. This research work investigated the Compatibility of the two systems and the Probability of interference of Channel 17 (490MHz) and Channel 51 (693MHz) when DTTV and LTE systems coexist within the proposed Digital Dividend band. A test-bed approach method was adopted for the generation of the required simulation data. Star Time transmitting Station in Port Harcourt and Smile LTE 4G Communication LTE Base Station (eNBs) Network also in Port Harcourt were adopted as the Victim Link Transmitter (VLT) and Interfering Link Transmitter (ILT) respectively. Data was obtained, analyzed, and evaluated. It was observed from the simulation result that the probability of interference is a function of the separation distance between ILT and VLR. The Compatibility analysis result shows that the resulting C/I is above the protection criteria (19dB), that is there’s a minimal rate of interference. Hence, the interference issue can be managed when the two systems coexist in700MHz band. It was also established that DTTV channel 51 suffers more interference when compared with DTTV channel 17 for the same separation distance. The study recommended the minimum protection distance approach (Interference Avoidance method) as the interference management techniques when DTTV and LTE systems coexist in the proposed digital dividend (700MHz) band in Nigeria.

Highlights

The migration from Analogue Television (ATV) to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTTV) released a wide range of frequency band (689MHZ-806MHZ) called Digital dividend[1]
The Star Time transmitting Station located inside the Premises of National Television Authority (NTA) at Mgbuoba, Port Harcourt on latitude 4°51'48.43"N and longitude 6°57'42.66"E which is on an elevation of 16m above the sea level with a transmitter height of 100m is the Victim Link Transmitter (VLT)
Using the Google Earth map software, twelve concentric circles of radius of 0.5 km spacing were drawn with star times transmitter located within Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) premise in Port Harcourt taken as the centre of the circles

Summary

Introduction

The migration from Analogue Television (ATV) to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTTV) released a wide range of frequency band (689MHZ-806MHZ) called Digital dividend[1]. In 2016, Nigeria launched the pilot phase of the Federal government's digital transmission project to transit from analogue broadcasting to digital broadcasting. Nigeria is in a phase called longer Simulcast, which is the simultaneous transmission of analogue and digital TV while waiting for the total switchoff. The NTA-Star TV Network, with the working name "Startimes" which is a joint endeavour between the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Beijing Star group, is the first digitalization pilot project in Nigeria. It is a key partnership between the biggest Television Network in Africa (NTA), and China's most powerful radio TV endeavor [3]

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Conclusion