DVB-H Network Planning in Urban Environments

Abstract

This article analyzes the problem of DVB-H based mobile TV network planning, and specifically, the deployment cost minimization issue. The article presents the planning studies for a DVB-H network in the city of Valencia (Spain). A TV broadcasting tower and the base stations of a 3G cellular phone service provider were considered as the broadcasting sites. The network under study involves synchronized transmitters at all the broadcast sites. In order to find network configurations yielding maximum coverage and minimum costs, a genetic multi objective based algorithm was used. The obtained results show a high density of transmitters is needed in order to achieve satisfactory coverage levels in indoor environments, hence, the re-usage of telecommunications infrastructure is a key factor in reducing the network deployment costs.