From analogue to digital television broadcasting

Television viewers are tuning to digital signals purveyed by DVB-T2 technology.

The implementation of the new system will radically change the broadcast media landscape, from the sources of the signal to the recipients.

As we scale this migration from analogue to digital, let us have a look at the new DVB-T2 technology.

What is DVB-T2?

Let us start with the basics. The main difference between digital TV and analogue is the way the signal is carried from the transmitters to a television set.

The analogue signal is in the form of waves. Digital broadcasting involves discrete bits of information which can be encoded and compressed to allow more channels to be relayed.

DVB-T2 is the second generation of digital video broadcasting terrestrial. The superior standard has the capability of increasing the capacity using existing antennas and spectrum, hence making it possible to sustain new broadcast services that require intensive frequency capacity.

In essence, the development of DVB-T2 has been associated mainly with the broadcast industry's need to offer more content and new services on the digital terrestrial TV.

Digital broadcast technology comes with spectrum efficiency and flexibility, therefore allowing the compression of several programme transmissions, as opposed to analogue, which heavily depends on individual frequencies.

DVB-T2 technology has an improved forward error correction and an increase in the number of bits carried per data cell, which in the end increases overall system capacity and further enhances better spectrum efficiency.

The standard has an optimised performance, with improved signal robustness. 

This implies that the picture quality on a DVB-T2 might not be affected by external influences like weather, buildings, or geographical location.

This brings out the better side of digital TV, namely quality sound, crystal clear picture, and large data broadcast.

Benefits

As a matter of fact, the switch over from analogue to digital broadcast has opportunities and benefits for broadcasters and TV viewers as well.

Notably, viewers will have a wide variety of television content. To broadcast companies and country at large, this transition creates digital dividend.

It will free up spectrum and enhance an optimal utility of existing frequencies. Spectrum is a valuable commodity in today's digital world.

Broadcasters will also be able to transmit more TV content with fewer spectrum. The digital systems can be a good avenue for content improvement and provision of a wide range of services to television viewers.

Depending on market demands, the digital platform is good for services that include pay-TV, video-on-demand, 3D TV, and SDTV.

DVB-T2 can deliver 4-HD (high definition) channels in a single 8MHz multiplex. There are more channels in SD (standard definition) on this platform with the MPEG-4 compression.

Set-Top Boxes

In order to access DVB-T2, consumers are advised to switch to digital TVs or alternatively purchase compatible gadgets from vendors with valid authorisation from the Communications Commission of Kenya.

Speaking of set-top boxes, it is in such times of transition that consumers should be wary of unscrupulous traders.

Technically, the set-top box is a receiver that decodes the digital signal into a format that can be displayed on the analogue TV.

The digital switch in Kenya comes at a time when several other African nations are also fine-tuning to the new DVB-T2 platform. 

Member states of the SADC (Southern African Development Group) have chosen the deployment of DVB-T2 at the expense of DVB-T.

The bloc comprises 15 countries that include Tanzania and the inhabitants of the entire lower portion of the African continent.

For member states, the ambitious plan is to switch to DVB-T2 by December 2013. South Africa has so far performed some successful trials in DVB-T2 digital broadcasting.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has set 17 June 2015 as the deadline for migration from analogue to digital terrestrial television.

A self-set deadline by Kenya was June this year. The DVB-T2 signal is currently available in parts of Nairobi, with gradual roll-out expected to eventually cover the rest of the country.

The television signal currently available to most TV viewers in the country is analogue. Viewers will have to tune to something new as DVB-T2 takes over the air waves.

The government recently announced that by July this year, the DVB-T2 digital broadcast signal will be available in 70 per cent of the country.

By ESMOND SHAHONYA