Regional Contents in a National DVB-T2 SFN: A Novel Approach Based on DVB-SIS

Abstract

To include regional contents in a national single-frequency network (SFN), the RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana has studied and tested a system configuration that benefits from the multiple physical layer pipes (PLPs) of Digital Video Broadcasting-Second Generation Terrestrial (DVB-T2) standard in a laboratory. According to the proposed solution, in each region, the national programs are transmitted in one PLP, whereas other k PLPs convey the regional contents of a macroregional SFN, formed by a region and the (k–1) surrounding ones. The DVB Single Illumination System standard can be a valid technical solution to distribute such complex signals to SFN transmitters via satellite or terrestrial contribution links in a cost-effective way. This article presents the rules adopted to map content into DVB-T2 PLPs and their application to the Italian case. Furthermore, it describes the end-to-end laboratory setup and the results of tests carried out, showing that a national SFN can broadcast both national and regional contents with high flexibility and spectrum efficiency.