Five-year spectrum outlook

2018–22

The ACMA’s spectrum management
work program—consultation draft

MAY2018

Submission by A. Hughes

Table 1:Planning—optimising established planning frameworks.

Planning area / Project priorities / Proposed timelines
Broadcastinganalogand digital radio / Make final decisions on Licence Area Plan variations for AM to FM conversion in Burnie, Devonport, Queenstown, Scottsdale and Bathurst
Consult on proposals for AM to FM conversion for Lithgow, Bega, Cooma, Goulburn and Nowra
Decide on extension of the determination of the low power open narrowcasting (LPON) sub-band / Q1
Q2
Q2

Broadcasting

The Spectrum Review recommended that broadcasting spectrum be better integrated into the general spectrum management framework, while maintaining the broadcaster’s access to spectrum to deliver their services. There are some distinctive features of broadcasting planning that affect how demand is managed. In particular:

future requirements for broadcasting spectrum are likely to depend on government decisions about the development of the sector

the minister is responsible for decisions to vary the Broadcasting Services Bands (BSB).No doubt that the minister will be guided by the advice from the ACMA and the Department of Communications!

In relation to television, there has been minimal demand for spectrum for additional television transmitters since the completion of the switchover to digital television, with the only demand being for retransmissions from remote communities, mining companies and caravan parks.The planning and the survey work done by the ACMA has meant that all Australians in Australia can receive television either terrestrially or via VAST satellite. Since a single satellite receiver can only receive the programs of one broadcaster, it is cheaper for small communities to transmit the output of 5 VAST receivers than install VAST receivers for each household.

Note: The ACMA forced these non-broadcaster funded rebroadcasters to install MPEG-4 decompressor/MPEG-2 compressors. This was because the ACMA was scared of the backlash fo non MPEG4 capable receivers. This is despite the fact that this area was the last areas to get transmitters which was 2 years after MPEG4 TVs became available and all of these viewers had to buy digital TVs or Set Top Boxes. These converters should be removed so that the retransmitters will radiate the VAST satellite signal unaltered. This will allow the transmission of as many HD programs was the broadcasters wish and allow for a smooth upgrade to Ultra High Definition.

The future spectrum planning requirements for television broadcasting remain unclear as technology advances. The main issue facing the television industry is the expected future obsolescence of the DVB-T[1] transmission standard and the MPEG-2 video compression standard.While upgrading the original MPEG-2 compression standard to MPEG-4 is proceeding using existing broadcaster multiplexes,

I note that each broadcaster, except GWN7 and remote Eastern and Central areas only radiate one MPEG-4 program each + Racing.com. What about the 17 other programs which still remain on MPEG-2 as well as 5 simulcast SD versions of their primary program?

This paragraph has omitted the introduction of HD simulcasts using MPEG-4 which has been poorly handled by the ACMA. As an example even now, the following areas have no commercial HD.

  • Remote areas using the VAST satellite system have no HD except in WA where GWN7 and 9 are not available in HD
  • WA regional as above
  • SA Gulf country No HD
  • SA Riverland/SE No 7 or 9 HD
  • Vic country No 9 HD
  • NSW Broken Hill No HD Griffith No 7 & 9 HD
  • Qld regional (Excluding Gold Coast) No 7HD

The Prime7 and Nine playout centres obviously have HD programming available for these country areas they will not send these programs there instead they have to go to the extra trouble of downscaling the images to make them prior to distribution.

The ACMA should co-ordinate the following Logical Channel Allocations, which the viewer uses to select their programs to get the majority of viewers seeing the sharper images.

Program / Current / New
HD / SD / HD / SD
TEN Metro* / 13 / 10 / 1 / 10
1 / 13
ABC / 20 / 2 / 2 / 20
SBS / 30 / 3 / 3 / 30
Southern Cross Nine / 50 / 5 / 5 / 50
Prime7/7Qld* / 60 / 6 / 6 / 60
Seven Metro / 70 / 7 / 7 / 70
WIN / 80 / 8 / 8 / 80
Nine Metro / 90 / 9 / 9 / 90
  • TEN will have publicity costs but it puts them at the top of the list in program guides and is easier to select.

After a year, these channels could be deleted. Then, all programs could be converted to MPEG-4 enabling two more of their programs could go HD. No channel number changes are required.

The above changes just require a few commands into each multiplexer in their playout centre. In the weeks prior to the change a regular scroll of “If you cannot receive the main program select channel ## after the target date. You will need to buy a new TV or set top box before theswitchoff date (which is a year away),so that we can make most of our programs high definition.”

The ACMA should co-ordinate the logical channel number switch and the deletion of the SD simulcast. On this date all areas without HD should switchover all programs to HD without simulcasting.

use of more modern standards, such as DVB-T2 transmission along with HEVC video compression,or the rival ATSC standard,ATSC was side by side tested by the Department of Communication in 1998 and was rejected for DVB-T. The ATSC now has ATSC3.0 which uses some of the technologies in DVB-T2. Our TV standards are derived from Europe not the USA.

will require separate, dedicated multiplexes. The introduction of DVB-T2 services using HEVC video compression could provide up to a five-fold increase in the number of services that can be carried in a television channel.[2]Or allow the transmission of UHD for the many UHD TVs in the shops and allow the existing programs to be transmitted in HD. This is all using existing distribution and transmitting equipment. This is preferable to transmitting all programs in blurry standard definition so that the telcos can use those vacated channels when DVB-T2 can simultaneously transmit to mobile phones. This would mean the viewers do not have to pay the telcos to watch TV.

Generally, television planning caters for ABC, SBS, three commercial services and one unallotted channel at most sites. The unallotted channel (‘the sixth channel’) is available in most areas for trials of more advanced standards. In 2018,the ACMA issued scientific licences to facilitate the first industry field trial of DVB-T2 and HEVC. The three-month trial commenced in Sydney in April 2018. The trial was conductedby Free TV Australia and Broadcast Australia, with participation from the ABC and SBS. The longer-term use of the unallotted channel, including its potential utility in any migration path to more advanced standards, remains unclear.

The unallocated transmission channel 10in Sydney is fine for testing DVB-T2/HEVC.However there are 2866 TV transmitters on 595 sites across Australia. So the installation of 595 DVB-T2 new transmitters is an expensive business. The broadcasters would have to share these transmitters and they would not be able to transmit a UHD version of the primary program of each network simultaneously.

A better option enable each broadcaster to transmit its primary program in UHD and their secondary programs in HD using their own transmitters.. To achive this;

  1. Update Australian Standard AS4933 Digital television—Requirements for receivers for VHF/UHF DVB-T television broadcasts including ancillary servicesand AS 4599.1:2015Digital television - Terrestrial broadcasting Characteristics of digital terrestrial television transmissions to require the following;
  2. All transmisions to be progressively scanned sequence to get the best picture which also has the lowest data rate. In the existing standards it is called Film mode.
  3. All signals to include HEVC compressed
  4. All sound to includexHE-AAC compressed from stereo to surround
  5. 7 MHz wide DVB-T2 modulation on RF channels 6 – 12, 28 - 51
  6. Assisted Dialog for those who have poor vision.
  7. VAST satellite receivers are required to decompress HEVC video and xHE AAC sound.
  8. The ACMA with its power through the Customs Act prevent the import of TV receivers which do not comply to the upgraded AS4933 as soon as possible.Note: All UHD TVs used for UHD Netflix have to be HEVC capable and DVB-T2 us used in the UK and many other countries. There are some TVs which are already capable of this particularly UHD (4K) TVs. This will allow the viewers time to buy new TVs or set top boxes/dongles.
  9. Decide a switchover date.
  10. Replace the modulator in each of 2866 transmitters with a DVB-T2/DVB-T switchable model.
  11. At each network playout centre, install HEVC encoder for all program streams.

The above steps are similar to those used for the MySwitch project run by the Australian Department of Communication’s analog to digital conversion.

Digital radio services make use of twoformer VHF television channels, which were set aside for this purpose when digital television services were replanned to clear the 700MHz band. In 2016, the ACMA undertook extensive studies on ways to facilitate the rollout of digital radio to regional licence areas. The key outcome of these studies was that the implementation of digital radio services in all existing licence areas, if desired, would be constrained because the potential demand would exceed the available supply of spectrum under certain conditions. In order to preserve the option of digital radio implementation in all existing licence areas, a number of compromises were identified as being required and these have been set out in the ACMA’s planning principles for the expansion of digital radio to regional areas.

The key compromises were an initial limit on the maximum power level for any transmitter considered in the development of allotment plans and an uneven split of the available spectrum capacity between national and commercial/community broadcaster multiplexes, with the national broadcasters having access to only two of the eight available frequency blocks. This is because national broadcasters are not constrained by licence areas and should be able to deploy single frequency networks over wider areas.

Since there is only 14 MHz available for DAB+ radio, it has limited digital radio to 8 transmission channels. If ABC/SBS use a single frequency network(which requires all program to be identical], there can only be one channel for each adjacent area around each mainland state capital cites along with a pair of commercial/Community transmitters. This locks out any new broadcasters.

Demand for AM radio spectrum is low due to the high transmission costs, as well as the increasing levels of man-made noise and an international trend for receivers not to incorporate AM tuners. Consequently, the ACMA is in the process of facilitating the conversion to FM of some commercial AM radio services operating in single-owner regional licence areas. Identifying suitable FM spectrum for these services is proving quite challenging in many areas and, in some cases, there may be competing claims over the same frequency. As a result, the planning for these conversions can be complex and time consuming.

The ACMA is ignoring the limited coverage area caused by the 200 MHz frequency used by DAB+..Why hasn’t the ACMA offered Digital Radio Mondiale( to the country stations where they can modify their existing AM transmitter to transmit FM stereo sound quality over the greater coverage area which is unaffected by the terrain, thatthey already have with AM. Alternatively offer DRM+ 47 – 68 MHz which was vacated from analog TV channels 0 – 2 so that they can transmit both of their programs along with slideshow advertising and Journaline text from a single transmitter. The lower frequency than FM will increase the coverage area for the same power.

It should be noted that DRM has been installed in a 800,000 Indian cars in the last 18 months.. Note the most powerful ABC transmitter is 50 kW. Remember that when DAB+ started there were no DAB+ receivers in listeners hands anywhere.

The ABC has 40 standby Local Radio, 9 Radio National and 2 Parliamentary News Radio. These transmitters are unused, unless there is a fault in the main transmitter. Broadcast Australia could modify these AM transmitters to transmit DRM and switch back to AM if there is a fault in another transmitter. These transmitters should be fed with Parliamentary News Radio and Radio National (in parametric stereo because the DAB+ transmissions are in stereo). Yes two voice transmissions from a single transmitter. DRM does not transmit a carrier so the electricity consumption will be around 60 % of the AM mode.

From the ACMA’s point of view, these ABC DRM transmissions can be on a single medium frequency channel for each state.

Consultation question

  • Are there other technology developments or sources of spectrum demand the ACMA should be aware of in considering spectrum management over the next five years?

As I suggested at last year’s consultation you do not seem to have investigated new radio broadcast technology called Digital Radio Mondiale which will affect frequency allocations and licence area planning.

Table 2:Monitoring

Key projects / Activity / Milestones
0.5 – 1.6, 2.3 – 26, 47 – 68 MHz / Where is the monitoring of developments in digital radio.Unlike DAB+, Digital Radio Mondiale can cover from community coverage through regional and remote areas to international coverage in noise free, distortion free stereo sound?
India has covered their country with DRM at high power and there are more than 800,000 DRM radios in cars. They and the Chinese are making radios.
Radio New Zealand International transmit HF DRM to the Pacific Islands for the last 18 years.
Where is the adoption of emergency warning systems on DAB+ and DRM radio in a country which gets cyclones and bush fires? These systems can display maps and detailed instructions along with waking up the radio to broadcast loud warnings to specifed areas. / Where is the monitoring of regulation, broadcasting and transmitter/receiver manufacture.
600 MHz
(617–698[3]MHz) / The 600 MHz band is currently used by digital television services in Australia and is available for some services under the Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2015.
Monitoring of this band is consistent with the Australian Government’s interest in considering the long-term availability of the television ‘sixth channel’ for non-broadcasting uses.[4]
It could also support scenarios in which national broadcasting services were consolidated onto a single multiplex in each area, potentially freeing up an additional channel for broadcasting or other uses. Current TV channel arrangements include spectrum both inside and outside of the 600MHz band and would require a further re-stack (sometimes referred to as a ‘second digital dividend’) to yield a contiguous block of spectrum in the 600 MHz range. The sixth channel is currently available for trials of more advanced digital television technology. There are no current government or industry plans for technical standards migration of television or the reconfiguration of TV channels.
Why is the ACMA trying to follow the USA and its 326 million people compared to Australia’s 24 million. Also our TV’s technical standards are derived from Europe. ITU region 2 (includes USA) use narrower TV channels than ours. Also predecessor of the ACMA allocated TV channels 21 – 27 to two way radio. Nowhere else has done this. See diagram at the end of this document.
Recent developments
The FCC incentive auction (which closed on 30 March 2017) resulted in a repurposing of 84 MHz of spectrum—70 MHz for licensed use and another 14MHz for wireless microphones and unlicensed use.[5]
In addition, the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) of the European Commission (EC) has also provided a long-term strategy for the future of the UHF band, which suggests the band remain available for broadcasting services until at least 2030. It also recommends that the band should be available for downlink-only broadband services on a secondary basis. This outcome is reflected in the EC’s inception assessment, but a final decision is still pending.
Currently a TV channel is downloading from the TV station 23 Mbit/s, there are 5 broadcasters making 115 Mbit/s, which rises to 170 Mbit/s when all existing broadcasters use DVB-T2. If the 6th TV channel is used it increase to 205 Mbit/s. Contrast this to the internet when a UHD signal is 25 Mbit/s for each viewer.
DVB-T2 can transmit simultaneously to TVs and phones.
ITU-R Working Party 5D is continuing the revision of Recommendation ITU-R M.1036-5 on frequency arrangements for implementation of the terrestrial component of International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) in the bands identified for IMT in the Radio Regulations (RR). The draft revision includes arrangements for the frequency band 470–698 MHz. Working Party 5D is aiming to complete the development of frequency arrangement(s) in the frequency band 470–698 MHz at its January 2018 meeting and finalise the revision of the Recommendation for the November 2018 meeting of ITU-R Study Group 5.
I commented in last year’s consultation on this and I have attached the diagram at the end of this Document.
The AWG finalised a report on frequency arrangements for IMT in the band 470–698 MHz at its September 2017 meeting. The arrangements mirror those put in place by the FCC and are included in Release 15 of the LTE specification as Band 71 by 3GPP.
Next steps
Given the outcome of WRC-15 and ongoing work internationally, the ACMA will continue to monitor international developments in the 600MHz band. In particular, the implementation of the results of the incentive auction process in the United States (US) will be of key interest.
The ACMA will also engage with industry and government on technological evolution of terrestrial digital television, including DVB-T2 and HEVC. Adoption of these technologies is likely to be a prerequisite for any future reallocation of broadcasting spectrum for non-broadcasting uses, though it is also key to the more efficient use of spectrum by the television industry itself. Both the government and the ACMA have emphasised the availability of ‘sixth channel’ spectrum for trialling the new standards.
Currently there is lots of UHD TVs on the market with big screens . It requires the DVB-T2/HEVC/xHE-AAC to continue transmission of a UHD and 3 HD programs by each broadcaster.If the ACMA intends to reallocate these frequencies to other uses broadcasters will have to either drop UHD TV and/or reduce the number of program choices. The NBN is not an alternative if all viewers watch programs simultaneously because the internet will slow down in the street and then between exchanges and the ISP causing poor resolution.
Is the ACMA going to choose for Australians between watching TV on the phone or on a large screen TV? Remember that DVB-T2 can transmit UHD to TV antennas and a ruggedized signal for mobile phones. / Ongoing monitoring

Table 3:Initial investigation