Digital TV race down to the wire

The Brazilian upgrade to the Japanese ISDB-T digital television standard is being tested on air in Pretoria until tomorrow, just weeks before the region decides which standard to implement.

The field test seeks to back up the Brazilians' claims that ISDB-T trumps the European DVB-T standard, which SA initially elected to roll out in 2006, before suddenly deciding to investigate the Brazilian version earlier this year.

However, the trial of the Brazilian standard, which is being implemented by Japanese engineers, is being viewed as a last-ditch attempt by the two countries to get SA to choose ISDB-T, rather than DVB-T, as there are only weeks to go before a regional decision is made.

SADC communication ministers are expected to announce, later this month, which standard the region will use to migrate to digital TV. Countries in the region will adopt one standard to avoid frequency cross-over.

Some countries in the region, such as Namibia and Mauritius, are already moving over to DVB-T. SA decided in 2006 to also use the European DVB-T standard for digital migration.

The Department of Communications' (DOC's) decision to review its choice irked the industry, which had spent years and millions in investment to gear up for the switchover to digital TV on DVB-T.

In addition, set-top box manufacturers have invested in manufacturing plants, and are now no longer certain of the way forward. The decoders are required to convert digital signal for viewing on analogue televisions.

Brazil's digital TV standard was slammed by a report issued on Monday, the day before it went on air, in Pretoria. The report, published by the Southern African Digital Broadcasting Association (Sadiba), argues DVB-T is superior to ISDB-T, and was issued in anticipation of ISDB-T going on air.

data analysed against specifications published by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a UN umbrella body for communications.

Sadiba explains that the report aimed to clarify any claims and counterclaims made about the performance of either standard. The research found “DVB-T has a performance edge above ISDB-T and that second generation DVB-T2 outperforms both DVB-T and ISDB-T by leaps and bounds”.

Digital Video Broadcasting association chairman Philip Laven argues: “It seems that the Brazilians and Japanese are desperately trying to promote their technology, before the SADC makes its decision.”

Sentech's test, launched on Tuesday, seeks to determine whether ISDB-T can work in the South African environment. Several media organisations were invited to the trial, although ITWeb believes neither Sadiba nor the National Association of Broadcasters was invited.

The tests, according to statements made by the Brazilian government some months ago, would show the signal can be received on set-top boxes imported from China for the purpose of viewing TV through ISDB-T.

Proponents of DVB-T argue that the Brazilian standard is not in use anywhere in the world on an 8MHz frequency. As a result, they note, there are no set criteria against which these tests can be measured.

Sentech public relations and media manager Nthabeleng Mokitimi says the field test, which is not a comparison with other standards, will cover aspects such as picture and sound quality.

Mokitimi adds that other technical aspects will be considered, such as whether the ISDB-T network is compatible with SA's existing analogue television transmission network. Both fixed and mobile reception will be assessed, she notes.

Sentech will conduct a full “broadcast-chain system test” to verify ISDB-T can be successfully implemented. The test will be run between towers in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Helderkruin, on Johannesburg's West Rand.

The signal being carried includes all of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) channels, as well as 19 radio stations.

However, industry commentators argue the Brazilian standard is not compatible with SA's frequency, which is on an 8MHz band, compared with Brazil's 6MHz band. As a result, switching standards now would result in existing investments being scrapped, and more money would have to be spent.

The Brazilians, however, claim that it would be relatively inexpensive for SA to switch standards now. Brazilian Ministry of Communications diplomat Flavio Lenz Cesar previously dismissed ISDB-T critics.

Lenz argued that ISDB-T is superior to DVB-T, delivers more robust coverage and performs better than DVB-T. He said the issue of standards is not a problem, and Brazil can aid the South African government in moving to digital TV in eight months.

The country's communications ministry also argued that the upgrade to DVB-T, T2, has not been adopted by enough countries to make the decoders cheap enough for use in developing economies such as SA.

The Brazilian government has provided the DOC with a formal proposal of cooperation, which includes financing for joint ventures and investment in SA if the country goes with ISDB-T. As a result, SA's economy could benefit from choosing ISDB-T.

Brazil's digital TV forum - SBTVD - has already signed up one local manufacturing interest group in its bid to woo SA to ISDB-T, after it entered into a cooperation agreement with the National Association of Manufacturers in Electronics Components (Namec).

The accord is aimed at creating a Technical Cooperation Group to promote digital TV in SA.

Namec chairman Keith Thabo says the cooperation will result in a transfer of skills in digital TV software from Brazil to SA. In addition, Namec members, who are emerging black technology manufacturers, will benefit, he explains.

SBTVD Forum president Frederico Nogueira hailed the agreement as a “great step in the international promotion of the Japanese-Brazilian standard, in particular owing to SA's strategic importance, which may contribute to the entry in other continents”.

The upgrade to DVB-T, DVB-T2, is already being tested in SA, with Sabida saying these trials are running well. At the moment, 18 channels are being broadcast on DVB-T2, including the three SABC stations, and etv and M-Net.

Sadiba previously called for an open comparison of all three standards to be run by Sentech before a decision is made. It also wants the standards to be independently tested through the trials.