DIGISAT: A technological solution via satellite for interactive SMATV networks in the DVB environment

Abstract

DIGISAT ACTS project has developed the entire added value chain for Inyeractive Satellite Broadcasting services and systems with the aim of ensuring the incorporation of residential users to the Multimedia Services through Satellite Master Antenna Television (SMATV), assuming that SMATV systems are the key infrastructureto provive Satellite services to users living in vertical buildings. Aan overview of the DIGISAT Interactive System for Multimedia Applications is described in this paper. The most attractive Multimedia services for the Broadcasting environment are described, highlighting as a reference “TV a la Carte∝, Near Video on Demand, Oriented Advertisement, Co-Direction, Pay per View, Internet Access, DVB data Broadcasting and real time TV audience data Acquisition. The results of the DIGISAT Trials are presented based on the services demonstrations already performed in 10 European countries with more than 600 users. These results provide a useful reference of the popular reaction to this kind of services. The DIGISAT Generic Reference Model for Interactive Systems has been developed with the objective of facilitating the convergence towards interoperability. This model has been discussed and eventually adopted by the DVB and ITU in coherence also with DA VIC and IEEE. DIGISAT has produced a Baseline Specification for the provision of interaction channel via satellite for SMATV based on Coaxial and Satellite sections. The DIGISAT concept is based on an open system architecture where several system options may be valid for any of the sections. For the satellite section last generation VSAT networks have been chosen based on CDMA modulation systems. Nevertheless, alternative VSAT technologies can be applied. At the moment of writing this abstract, the DIGISAT specification is under discussion at the DVB. It will probably become an ETR (ETSI Technical Report). The DIGISAT specification is creating a great expectation at the DVB, as the optimum solution for the coaxial section of the SMATV systems. Coaxial section can be reused to be concatenated with alternative transmission media to the satellite such as terrestrial UHF or microwaves (MMDS). The preliminary conclusions of the Cost Analysis is that the Coax section is economically feasible in a wide range of types of SMATV from 20 to 300 users.