High interest in first WorldDAB seminar on DAB+ network implementation

30.05.2019 by Bernie O’Neill, Project Director, WorldDAB

Photo credit: Julia Nechyporenko, Ukraine National TV & Radio Broadcasting Council

Delegates from across the Central and Eastern European Region attended the WorldDAB Spectrum and Network Implementation Committee’s first seminar on ‘Best practice for implementation of DAB+ SFN networks’.  Organised in partnership with Broadcast Networks Europe, the seminar took place on 22 May, in parallel with the MBT conference in Budapest.  The event was hosted by the National Media and Infocommunications Authority, Hungary.

DAB+ network operators from Germany, UK, Norway and Poland shared their key learnings from their deployment of DAB+ Single Frequency Networks. Some of the key learnings were as follows:

• Christoph Look of Media Broadcast Germany advised they have adopted one standardised technical infrastructure design for all sites. The single vendor strategy saves money, simplifies spare parts management and facilitates maintenance and repair tasks.
• Petter Hox, NRK and Jonas Jacobsson, Norkring, Norway advised that asymmetric networks can be a challenge, with the public not always understanding why there are differences in coverage. Norkring found that adjacent channel interference could be resolved by co-location of transmitters, transmitter power reduction, and using filters with critical mask.
• Mirek Ostrowski from Radio Wroclaw, Poland reported that modified open-source software has been successfully deployed in Poland, using Grafana for analytics and monitoring, and while regular internet may be acceptable, a microwave link has been found to be more reliable.
• Hanns Wolter from DAB Italia, and Chair of the WorldDAB Spectrum and Network Implementation Committee, advised it is important to shift away from a FM planning mind set, start simple by finding the main network transmitter and extend the transmitter network from there, choose simple antenna systems, and not to be afraid of making mistakes and rectifying signal “errors” as you go along.

There is increased interest in deploying DAB+ across the Central and Eastern European region.  Speaking at the MBT conference the following day, President of WorldDAB, Patrick Hannon, observed that the key drivers for countries to deploying DAB+ are the fact that FM spectrum is full, digital giants are invading radio’s space and the need for broadcasters to retain control.  DAB+ is a compelling choice as it enables broadcasters to offer listeners greater choice, clearer sound, enhanced graphics and lower distribution costs.

In response to the accelerated rollout of DAB+ across Europe and beyond, the WorldDAB Spectrum and Network Implementation Committee (SNIC) was launched earlier this year to support the implementation of DAB+ networks. Further seminars in the series will be announced over the coming months. To obtain the full set of presentations from this first seminar and for information on how to join WorldDAB contact:  projectoffice@worlddab.org.

Photo credit: Sebestyén Gábor, NMHH

MBT 2020 will take place in Belgrade and will be hosted by RTS, the Serbian public broadcaster.