DVB-T2 Lite is a profile within DVB-T2 to facilitate the implementation of mobile service delivery. This new profile is basically a subset of the already existing DVB-T2 specification with a few minor add-ons and a data rate limited to 4 Mbit/s, which allows a reduction of the receiver chip size by 50%. DVB-T2 Lite provides for a more robust mobile reception at high speeds, at the cost of reduced bitrate.
The T2-Lite profile allows for mixing services that are optimized for mobile reception with services optimized for fixed or portable reception and services with various robustness.
T2-Lite is a “lighter” version of the Digital TV standard, DVB-T2 introduced as a subset of DVB-T2 in version 1.3.1. Features include low bitrates (peaking at 4Mbps per PLP) and short forward error correction frames (16k), which co-exist with coding rates to collectively offer a sharp reduction in receiver power use.
The aim of DVB-T2-Lite is to provide a robust platform for enhanced mobile device reception with lesser demand on CPU performance and power consumption, making it perfectly suitable for smartphones and tablets as well as TV’s and set-top boxes already on the market today.
DVB-T2 version 1.3.1 has three additional bandwidths: 1.7 MHz, 5 MHz and 10 MHz (besides the 6, 7 and 8 MHz). 1.7 MHz is the same frequency that Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) standard uses in VHF band III.
The significance of DVB-T2-Lite for broadcasters, DTT operator and regulators, is that it removes the hurdles to commercial success with mobile DTT and radio broadcasting as you save the cost for building a new dedicated network for mobile TV and/or digital radio.
DVB-T2-Lite is, due to its significantly greater efficiency and multimedia flexibility, suitable for large‐scale digital radio broadcasting along with digital television.
Open Channel in Copenhagen Denmark was one if the first in Europe to go on-air with DVB-T2 in 2010 and again in March 2012 they led the way, as the first in the world to air Television for mobile device and digital radio on the newly introduced DVB-T2-Lite profile in DVB-T2 version 1.3.1.
Comparison between DVB-T2-Lite and DAB+
- When using the same propagation model as DAB+: capacity is increased threefold (48 radio stations with DVB-T2-Lite, compared to 16 with DAB+.
- When using the same capacity as DAB+: broadcast strength, with the same propagation model as DAB+, can be reduced by six times, with an equivalent reduction in transmission costs with DVB-T2-Lite, or six times better broadcasting strength with significantly larger coverage using DVB-T2-Lite.
- Double capacity: 36 radio stations and two times better transmission strength with an equivalent reduction of the transmission costs using DVB-T2-Lite compared with DAB+.
Resources
DVB-T2-Lite profile tech standard approved: Transmissions are go! BBC Research & Development.
DVB-T2-Lite profile using diversity technique under different channel conditions Published in 2015 IEEE International Symposium on Broadband.
