1. Feasibility of 3G and Mobile Broadcasting Networks for Mass Multimedia Services
Anssi Korkeakoski
Supervisor: prof. Sven-Gustav Häggman
Instructors: M.Sc. Niina Laaksonen, Lic.Tech. Jyrki Penttinen
February 24, 2019

2. Contents Background Objectives & Methodology
Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service
Digital Video Broadcasting – Handheld
Evaluation & Conclusions
February 24, 2019

3. Background
As the number of simultaneous users increases within the service area, efficient delivery of content becomes more and more crucial
Therefore, broadcasting should be favoured to transmit mass services for large audiences in order to decrease the delivery costs per user
Different mobile broadcast systems have been designed but this thesis focuses on two solutions with different backgrounds: MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service) and DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcast – Handheld)
Unicast
Broadcast
February 24, 2019

4. Objectives & Methodology
Introduce MBMS and DVB-H
Study and compare the main technical constraints of the radio interface of these systems
Evaluate the effect of these constraints on the feasible service portfolio as well as user environment
Sketch example user scenarios
Methodology:
Literary study based on 3GPP and ETSI specifications, conference papers and research articles
Author’s own experience from DVB-H networks also utilized
February 24, 2019

5. MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service)
Specification work of MBMS (Rel 6) in 3GPP is partly unfinished at the moment
MBMS is designed for both GSM/EDGE and UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Networks (GERAN/UTRAN)
This thesis focuses on UTRAN
Two modes: Broadcast mode and multicast mode
In multicast mode, either DCH or FACH channel used depending on the number of MBMS users within the cell
MBMS provides bidirectional p-t-p correction of erroneous data after the broadcast session
Only for services with no strict delay requirements, such as file downloading
February 24, 2019

6. MBMS architecture
HLR
CBC
SGSN
GGSN
BM-SC
Content Provider
UTRAN
GERAN
OSA SCS
Other networks e.g. Internet Uu Um Iu
Iu/Gb Gr
Gn/Gp
Gmb Gi
Broadcast Multicast Service Centre (BM-SC) is a new network element
Enhancements to SGSN, GGSN, UTRAN and UE
More or less a vendor-specific issue
February 24, 2019

7. Digital Video Broadcasting - Handheld
Specification work of DVB-H is finished in ETSI
DVB-H is based on DVB-T(errestrial), but supports handheld portable and mobile reception
The main additional features of DVB-H:
Time slicing technique to achieve better battery saving percentage
MPE-FEC error correction mechanism for additional robustness and mobility
4K-mode for mobility and radio network design flexibility
Usually the content delivered in DVB-H network is associated only to mobile TV, but basically also other services, such as file downloading, is viable
February 24, 2019

8. IP Datacasting DVB-H IPDC Network Operator Content IPDC Provider
Mobile Network Operator
IP transmission
IPDC
Service
Operator
Content
Provider
Platform
and
Services
GSM/GPRS/
E-GPRS/
UMTS
Mobile
E-GPRS/UMTS
Network
Inter-
action in
Uplink
DVB-H
IPDC = IP Datacasting
February 24, 2019

9. Feasible data rates in MBMS and DVB-H
Base station output power consumption limits the bit rates per service in MBMS
According to simulations, e.g. in pedestrian environment, at least 15 % fractional BS power (Ec/Ior) required for a 64 kbit/s bearer (1% BLER target, –3 dB geometry)
Lower MBMS performance can be expected in macrocellular WCDMA networks due to lower geometry factor values at the cell edge
In DVB-H, the overall maximum throughput per carrier is max. ~15 Mbit/s in mobile environment, which is further allocated to different services
In practice, the battery saving target limits the maximum feasible bit rate per service
February 24, 2019

10. Error correction mechanisms
The implementation of FEC (Forward Error Correction) in MBMS is not yet standardized in 3GPP
DVB-H utilizes FEC in two layers
Code rates: 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 5/6 and 7/8
Optional back-up error correction mechanism is implemented in MBMS via unicast links for file delivery services
In theory, this solution is scalable only if the repair requests are spread in time and across multiple servers
Similar mechanism has not been decided – at least yet – to implement in DVB-H
February 24, 2019

11. User environment
E.g. in Finland, UTRAN has been built so far only to largest cities
MBMS could also utilize the vast coverage of GERAN
In the end, the quality and coverage area of the networks for MBMS and DVB-H services depends on the network operator itself
Economic realities guide the decisions more than technical aspects
Both MBMS and DVB-H support mobility well, but handovers must be performed more often on average in UMTS network
The max. distance between two main transmitters within a SFN (Single Frequency Network) cell can be even 67 km depending on the network parameters
February 24, 2019

12. Other aspects
MBMS can utilize the existing GERAN/UTRAN networks (+frequencies)
Most likely a dedicated DVB-H network must be built
It is possible to use the existing DVB-T networks for DVB-H services, but problems might be encountered in indoor coverage, mobility, capacity etc.
New DVB-H infrastructure and frequency licences increase expenditures!
Status of the specification work and technology maturity
February 24, 2019

13. Conclusions and future work
DVB-H has better capabilities to provide more versatile service portfolio
The employment of a dedicated MBMS carrier should be considered based on traffic statistics and service needs
Due to utilization of mobile cellular network, local and interactive services with shorter response time are more suitable for MBMS
MBMS should not be rolled out until the UMTS customer penetration is dense enough
Future work:
Studies of other mobile broadcasting systems
UMTS radio network measurements (e.g. cumulative distribution function of the geometry factor in real network) in order to better evaluate the MBMS capacity
February 24, 2019

14. The Nordic and Baltic telecommunications leader
February 24, 2019