DVB-T2

DVB-T2
Name	DVB-T2
Caption	Digital Video Broadcasting — Terrestrial 2
Developer	European Broadcasting Union; Digital Video Broadcasting Project
Introduced	2008
Predecessor	DVB-T
Related	DVB-S2, DVB-C2
Standard	ETSI EN 302 755

DVB-T2 is a second-generation standard for terrestrial digital television broadcasting that increases spectral efficiency and robustness compared with its predecessor. It was developed by the Digital Video Broadcasting Project with contributions from the European Broadcasting Union, Eutelsat, SES S.A., and manufacturers such as Sony, Samsung Electronics, and LG Electronics. The specification is maintained as an ETSI standard and has been adopted across multiple continents including Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Overview

DVB-T2 builds on the work of DVB-T and aligns with initiatives from standards bodies such as ETSI and testing organizations like DVB Project. Broadcasters including BBC, ITV, ZDF, and RAI have evaluated or deployed trials, while regulatory authorities such as Ofcom, ANFR, BNetzA, and FCC-equivalent agencies in various countries oversee spectrum allocation and switchovers. The standard is frequently discussed alongside satellite standards like DVB-S2 and cable standards like DVB-C2 in technology roadmaps published by manufacturers including Nokia and Huawei.

Technical Specifications

Key technical parameters include modulation schemes (QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM, 256-QAM) and forward error correction using LDPC and BCH codes originally specified in ETSI documents. The air interface supports multiple physical layer pipes (PLP), variable guard intervals, and multiple orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) modes such as 1k, 2k, 4k, 8k, 16k, and 32k FFT sizes. The reference implementation and conformance testing rely on laboratories like Fraunhofer Society and TÜV Rheinland. Profiles and channel coding parameters are referenced in standards committees including ETSI TC Broadcast and industry consortia such as DVB Project working groups.

Features and Improvements over DVB-T

Improvements include increased spectral efficiency through enhanced modulation and coding, improved link adaptation with PLP for service-specific robustness, and support for single-frequency networks (SFN) with better timing control. Features such as Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) extensions, improved pilot patterns, and reduced transmission overhead were driven by research from institutions like Imperial College London, University of Surrey, and industrial labs at Intel. Comparative performance evaluations have been published by broadcasters including BBC Research & Development and manufacturers like Samsung Electronics demonstrating higher throughput per MHz versus DVB-T.

Deployment and Adoption

National rollouts occurred in countries such as United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Greece, Portugal, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, and parts of Turkey. Outside Europe, deployments include Japan (in parallel with ISDB-T considerations), Australia, New Zealand, Brazil (evaluations), and several African broadcasters coordinated through African Union and regional telecom regulators. Transition planning has involved stakeholders such as European Commission digital agendas and national ministries of communications.

Implementation and Equipment

Set-top boxes, integrated digital televisions, and modulators from vendors including Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Humax, Ferguson, Technisat, Amino Communications, and ZTE implement DVB-T2 decoders and conditional access modules. Headend equipment and SFN synchronization solutions are supplied by manufacturers like Huawei, Ericsson, NEC, Thomson Broadcast (now CFT) and SENCA. Test and measurement instruments from Rohde & Schwarz, Keysight Technologies, and Anritsu provide conformance and field measurement tools.

Regional Variations and Frequency Planning

Frequency planning for DVB-T2 is coordinated through regional agreements such as the ITU Radio Regulations and planning conferences like RRC-06 and subsequent regional conferences. Channel bandwidths (6 MHz, 7 MHz, 8 MHz) are chosen according to national plans in United States-like 6 MHz regions and European 7/8 MHz allocations in France, Spain, and Italy. Regional variations also reflect use of VHF Band III and UHF bands reallocated for mobile broadband after spectrum refarming events driven by ministries and agencies such as Ofcom and ANFR.

Market Impact and Future Developments

DVB-T2 enabled broadcasters to offer high-definition television (HD) and emerging ultra-high-definition (UHD) services, time-shifted and multi-channel portfolios, monetization via targeted conditional access provided by firms like Nagra and Irdeto, and hybrid broadcast-broadband services interoperable with middleware from HbbTV consortium partners. Ongoing evolution considers integration with 5G broadcast proposals championed by 3GPP and collaborative projects with companies such as Ericsson and Nokia for converged delivery. Research centers including Fraunhofer Society, ETSI working groups, and industry alliances continue to explore next-generation extensions, low-latency profiles, and power-efficient implementations for handheld reception.

Category:Digital television standards