STEP-BY-STEP ROLLOUT OF DVB-T(H) SERVICE IN

UKRAINE IN 2006

Ivan Omelyanyuk1 and Yaroslav Karnakov2

1
Kvant-Efir Ltd., Ukraine and 2 UDTVN JSC, Ukraine

ABSTRACT
The paper covers the results of a 3-year DVB-T trial in Kyiv, recent steps of
DVB-T introduction in Ukraine and provisions of a new TV and radio
broadcasting law adopted by the Parliament of Ukraine in January 2006.
The paper takes a close look at the market of digital terrestrial television in
Ukraine including analysis of approximate number of viewers using external
antennas, indoor antennas and portable antennas integrated in mobile
phones and other handheld devices, business models of DVB-T(H) network
rollout in Ukraine by a broadcast operator Ukrainian Digital TV Network
(UDTVN) established in 2005.
It also covers the latest frequency planning results, technical and
commercial terms of a bid recently awarded by the National Television and
Broadcasting Council of Ukraine for 4 DVB-T multiplexes;
There are some brief results of design and realisation of digital broadcasting
network based on newest IP technologies allowing digital content
aggregation centre the use of MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 compression in SD
and HD formats and IP-based contribution and distribution to terrestrial
broadcast sites as well as IPTV service providers.

INTRODUCTION
The first step in DVB-T implementation was the
creation of a pilot zone with one multiplex in Kiev in
2002. The 51st terrestrial television channel was used
for trial purposes in order to gain experience for the
future digital television introduction.
Due to a political change followed by the Orange
Revolution in Ukraine the situation with DVB-T roll-out
was improved in the end of 2005. The adoption of a Figure 1 - Ukraine
new TV and radio broadcasting law along with more
than 60 national standards which deal with DVB-T in January 2006 gave more opportunities
for the DVB-T(H) roll-out in Ukraine (Figure 1). The new Law provides rules for broadcast
network operators, broadcasters, content providers, programme makers and other players in
the sphere of digital broadcasting.
In the digital television network project we made the decision in favour of IP-based content
distribution and contribution which offers numerous advantages. Firstly, digital content
distribution over IP network gives the possibility of using a single medium for the multiple
programmes distribution to the regional transmitting station in different parts of Ukraine.
Secondly, IP technology allows transmitting every channels data independently. This gives a
unique opportunity of having custom regional multiplexes which can be made at regional
transmitting stations taking into account signal propagation peculiarities in each part of
Ukraine. Another advantage is a relatively simple regional program and advertisement
insertion. Thirdly, programmes in the IP format are suitable for the IPTV operators use.
Fourthly, the channels independency offers an opportunity of using the same network
medium for content contribution.
Fifthly, the IP data with DVB-H content can easily be shared with Ukrainian GSM and
Telecom operators all of which have access to the IP network. Lastly, IP network gives direct
and return channels for network management system making the report acquisition a simple
task.
Consequently IP-based content distribution and contribution offer important advantages.
However, the final decision about the type of the IP network is to be made. The considered
choices are fibre optic network and satellite DVB-S2 network with DVB-RCS. Along with the
decision to exploit the advantages of the IP networks our company gave the preference to
the MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) compression offering the bandwidth dividend.

MARKET FIGURES OF UKRAINE

Population of Ukraine is above forty nine million people
and there are approximately seventeen million Area 603,700 sq.km
households and twenty three million TV sets in the
country (Table 1). Population 49.710 mln
According to a market research the number of analog Households 17.679 mln
terrestrial TV viewers makes up more than 11 million (HH)
people.
As can be seen from the Table 2 below there are only TV sets 23 mln
thirty two thousand subscribers of digital cable pay TV
in Kyiv. The service began in the end of 2002 but could Table 1 Market figures of
only attract a limited number of subscribers though the Ukraine
prices were not very high. The main reason is that
there are about 18 free-to-view analog channels on the air.
Terrestrial (analog) 14.550 mln households (HH) (82 %)
Terrestrial (DVB-T) To be launched in June 2006 in Kyiv, 4 muxes
Cable (analog pay TV) 2.700 mln HH (15,2 %)
Cable (DVB-C pay TV) 0.05 mln HH (0,18 %)
Satellite (DVB-S) 0.3 mln HH (2,5 %)

Table 2 - TV reception in Ukraine

According to reception antenna types research it is easy to see that fifty-seven percent of the
audience have individual indoor and outdoor antennas (Figure 2). We think this is a good
aspect for implementation of a DVB-T network.
There are nine nationwide TV channels in Ukraine. The total number of nationwide channels'
analog TV transmitters is over two thousand. Most of the nationwide channels cover more
than 60 percent of the territory of the country.
Preliminary conclusions of marketing analysis
of DVB-T roll-out in Ukraine: urban areas with Individual
indoor
cable distribution make up about 30 % which antenna Other
30% 23%
means that potential number of DVB-T
subscribers is not less than 11 million; high
attraction of portable mobile DVB-T reception
as about 30 % of households have indoor
antennas. Restrictions: low average income
of people; absence of fee for owning a TV set Individual
outdoor
Common
outdoor
intended for public and social TV which antenna antenna
27%
means problems with financing of 20%

government channels and vague possibility

to attract public costs; insufficient awareness
of population about advantages of digital Figure 2 - Reception antenna type research
television; insufficient capabilities on the part
of the government and business groups in investing to construction of DVB-T network.

LEGISLATIVE ASPECT
As of today there are more than 60 DTT standards approved by the State Standardization
Committee of Ukraine.
In November 2005 the National TV and Broadcasting Council of Ukraine passed a resolution
concerning gradual transition from analog to digital broadcasting starting from 2006.
On April 22, 2006 the National TV and Broadcasting Council of Ukraine awarded four
multiplexes to four winning companies. One of them is JSC Ukrainian Digital TV Network
(UDTVN).
These frequencies in Kyiv will be used for testing of DTT during the first year. Next there will
be regular broadcasting on a permanent basis. Licenses will be valid for 10 years.

DVB-T TRIALS
The latest results of DVB-T pilot zone in Kyiv are as follows. The DVB-T transmitter operates
on the 51st TV channel in Kyiv, output power 600 W, modulation 64QAM 3/4 GI=1/32 ERP.
The adjacent analog TV channels are: 50th channel 10 kW and 52nd channel 5 kW. Since
the adjacent channels are power ones the signal to noise ratio threshold at the digital
receiver input is increased 5 dB. Figure 3 represents the results of experimental
measurements and theoretical calculation of DVB-T transmitter coverage in Kyiv.

FREQUENCY PLANNING
There are some peculiarities of frequency planning in Ukraine: frequency band from 47 to
108 MHz (from the 1st to 5th TV channel) is used for analog broadcasting; frequency band
from 66 to 74 MHz is used for FM radio broadcasting; frequency band from 654 to 862 MHz
is used for special services.
Before Geneva-2006 Regional Conference frequency planning of digital terrestrial
broadcasting in Ukraine has been carried out according to Chester-97 plan and Ukraine
faced the following challenges: analog transmitters operating on frequency band from 47 to
108 MHz were to be moved to other bands; other radio-electronic services from frequency
band 654 to 862 MHz were to be removed.
 Figure 3 DVB-T transmitter coverage in Kyiv
On Figure 4 we can see a high density of frequencies allocated for analog broadcasting in
Ukraine. In this conditions Ukraine will have difficulties in digital frequencies planning during
the period of simultaneous digital and analog broadcasting. The calculations prepared by the
Ukrainian State Centre of Radio Frequencies (UCRF) for Geneva-2006 Agreement foresee
8-9 multiplexes covering the whole country.

Figure 4 Analog frequency allocation in Ukraine

Figure 5 illustrates a variant of planning with 78 Single Frequency Network (SFN) zones
which will be implemented in a final stage of transition to digital broadcasting.

SFN

Figure 5 - 78 SFN zones and main transmitter sites in the country

Lets look at the results of frequency planning for Kyiv capital of Ukraine.
On figure 6 you can see channels allocation in Kyiv with DVB-T channel operating on the
51st TV channel between two high power (10 and 5 kW) analog TV channels.
The next stage of DVB-T network roll-out, as realized in April 2006, will use channels marked
red.
20
20

15
Power, kW

10
10
10

10
5
5
5 5
2 0,5 1 2 0,2
1 1 1 1,3 2
0
DVB-T 41

DVB-T 43

DVB-T 51

DVB-T 64
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
21
23
24
25
26
28
29
30
31
32
34
35
36
37
38
39
40

42

44
46
47
48
49
50

52
53
56
57
58
59

Channels

Figure 6 - Analog and digital frequencies allocation in Kyiv

We performed a great number of coverage calculations for these frequencies. Drawing and
values on Figure 7, for example, represent some results of computer-based coverage
estimation for CH 41 with EIRP of 16,4 kW in both DVB-T and DVB-H modes of operation
(using hierarchical mode, taking hierarchy penalty into account). Mobile conditions (QPSK,
Ryce channel model, 1 m receiver antenna height) were used for high-priority stream
propagation and fixed roof-top antenna conditions (64QAM , Gauss model, 10 m antenna
height) for low-priority stream. 3D map including all geological objects was used during
calculations. It was estimated, that DVB-H (HP) coverage could be up to 45 km and DVB-T
(LP) coverage 65 km theoretically, some small shadow zones exist but with total area
about 3 to 4 %. Of course all this simulations should be checked during field trials stage.

ERP 16.4 W, Hier. QPSK GI=1/32 + 64QAM 3/4,

GI=1/32, 41 ch.
Antenna: h=358 m

Unit dBV/m
Threshold 61.4
> 111.4
101.4 to 111.4
91.4 to 101.4
81.4 to 91.4
71.4 to 81.4
61.4 to 71.4
51.4 to 61.4
< 51.4

Figure 7 - Calculation of DVB-H transmitter coverage in Kyiv and suburbs

on the 41st TV channel

THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE DIGITAL TELEVISION NETWORK

Central Digital Content Aggregation Station (CDCAS)
The main principles put into the CDCAS system design are:
 maximum flexibility in all aspects:
o possibility to obtain content from various different sources in different formats over
different media, and process it in the way required by the service;
o serving various possible business models (1) in terms of: different customers
(service providers), different broadcast service types DVB-T (2), DVB-H (3),
IPTV all this simultaneously;
o high scalability and readiness to new types of services introduction;
technologies unification at different levels thus lowering both CAPEX and OPEX;
avoiding of using non-standard, proprietary and rarely-used technologies and
equipment.
Resulting solution developed by our model uses IP technology as a core. It is used both
inside the CDCAS and outside it as primary transport technology for the distribution network.
All the content sources the television signals of most Ukrainian TV channels as well as
services received from satellite are split into separate services and incapsulated into single
program IP streams. The powerful video processing engine allows complex mixture of SPTS
and MPTS streams creation, these transport streams can easily co-exist in the same
GigabitEthernet-based IP environment, as well as native IP streaming services (eg. for DVB-
H broadcasting). This makes the system very flexible as of sources media type, channel
routing, and output formats IPTV service providers (SP) can be served directly, whereas
DVB service providers need only one IP-to-ASI interface converter per multiplex which can
be installed near transmitter thus allowing transmission link itself to be IP-based. Based on
IP, the core of the CDCAS is independent of compression standards and source formats,
allowing fast and straightforward introduction of new technologies, such as HDTV and
H.264/AVC (Figure 8).

Figure 8 - Central Digital Content Aggregation Station

In the current project UDTVN the CDCAS system is used to provide up to 4 MPTSs for
DVB-T transmission in Kyiv, as well as 1 DVB-H multiplex and some streaming services for
IPTV SPs. Trials are on the way to introduce HDTV and H.264/AVC.

Primary Distribution Network and Terrestrial Broadcast Sites

Contemporary telecom networks in Ukraine can transport IP data very effectively, and at the
early stages of UDTVN expansion over Ukraine, where number of transmitter sites will be
limited, it is planned to use this type of transport. There were several successful trials
performed for transporting of TV services over MPLS networks of different operators. The
content format for transport is multiple SPTSs over IP this allows at the large local head-
ends to add local-originated content and create multiplexes different from central ones,
adapting to the local transmitters parameters. At the next stages of the project it is planned
to introduce dedicated satellite-based distribution network using pure IP-over-DVB-S2
technology. This network will also serve as the content source for IPTV and cable networks
where required. Terrestrial on-channel repeaters(gap-fillers) or transposers are also
considered to be used for coverage extension in local areas to avoid expensive local
distribution networks.

BUSINESS MODEL
Table 3 contains a summary of a DVB-T(H) business plan draft.
Amount, thousand US$
Expenditures / Income
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Total expenditures 9353 20665 31791 35752 44619 45285 43760
Total income 0 5044 32966 68633 97142 84050 90231
Profit/Losses -3491 -7855 4957 29453 46089 32928 36296
Investments needed 9353 20665 27588 Self financing
VAT -1215 -1331 1571 6958 10354 8106 9399
Amount of investments needed: approx. US$ 200 mln.
Amount of external investments needed: US$ 57 605 246.
Self financing starts from the 4th quarter of 2008.
Average annual profit after start of self financing: US$ 29 945 000.
Payback period: 5.7 years.
Table 3 Summary of a DVB-T(H) business plan draft
Ukraine, one of the first in Eastern Europe, began, since the year two thousand, researches
of variants of DVB-T implementation. We developed a concept of DVB-T broadcasting
network implementation without government support on a commercial basis.
Amount of investments needed for implementation of a digital TV network with 4 multiplexes
is approximately US$200 mln, including external investments of over US$57 mln. Self-
financing of the project starts from two thousand eight. Payback period is 5.7 years.
Next point of the business model is that DVB-T network should be put into operation in the
following order:
1. Test broadcasting in Kyiv in 2006 of DVB-H services using 1 mux and DVB-T in other 3
muxes.
2. Commercial broadcasting DVB-H and DVB-T services in Kyiv starting from 2007.
3. Expansion to other cities by 2007-2008, simultaneous broadcasting of DVB-H and DVB-T
services.
4. Coverage of the rest of the territory of Ukraine by two thousand eleven.
5. Switch-off of analog broadcasting in 2014-2015.
CONCLUSIONS
Implementation of a DVB-T(H) network has good prospects in Ukraine due to its potential
value: urban areas with cable distribution make up less than 31 % which means that
potential number of DVB-T subscribers is not less than 12 mln; high attraction of mobile
DVB-T reception as about 30 % of households have indoor antennas.
Taking into account the Ukrainian TV market analysis and the results of the 23 DVB-H
services trials around the world broadcast digital operator UDTVN have adopted the strategy
to introduce, at the first stage, DVB-H and HDTV services in Ukraine within a single
multiplex.
The developed network architecture allows implementing the described business models
with maximum efficiency. The use of the latest technologies will allow minimizing capital as
well as operation expenditures.
The main idea of the offered technical and business model is that one of possible solutions
for investing sources lies in attraction in Ukraine of about 70 % of investments from rich
people (approximately 12 % of country's population) who are able and willing to pay for
additional high quality TV services especially mobile and portable TV. This will cover costs
for DVB-T network creation, compensate costs for set-top-boxes in areas with low income
rate. With the growth of well-being the population will gradually begin to watch high rate
digital pay TV programs along with 5-7 free to view digital TV programs and existing free to
view analog TV programs during the period of transition from analog to digital.

REFERENCES
1. ETSI TR 102 377: "Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); DVB-H Implementation
Guidelines".
2. EN 300 744: "Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); Framing structure, channel coding and
modulation for digital terrestrial television".
3. ETSI EN 302 304: "Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); Transmission System for
Handheld Terminals (DVB-H)".

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Special thanks to Mr. V.F. Oliynyk who is a member of the National Communications
Commission of Ukriane and representatives of Ukrainian State Centre of Radio Frequencies
Mr. Y.V. Hairov and Mr. K.R. Zhavrotsky as well as to Mr. O.I.Liakhov the President of the
Cable TV Union of Ukraine.