1. Estudio 103
STRATEGIES FOR RNE’S OPERATION OF DIGITAL RADIO

2. RNE (Spanish National Radio) currently operates the following platforms:
DAB
Digital Audio
Broadcasting
DRM
PODCAST
Digital Radio
Mondiales
DVB-T DVB-S
Digital Video
TDT Broadcasting-
Satellite
Internet

3. The need for new transmission systems
•Increased competition with new devices (CD,
Mini Disc, iPod, Mobile phone).
Economic reasons •New business opportunities with more services
of better quality
• Worse audio quality than CD.
• Serious interference problems
Deficiencies in the • Deficiencies in mobile reception
analogue (FM, AM) • Very limited ability to transmit data
• Stagnation in the audience of AM
• Improvements in the use of receivers are
needed
• Auxiliary visual information as text, images,
New servicies etc
• Ability to include associated data and
independent audio program
3

4. Frequency bands of different digital systems
AM FM DRM+
is designed
to cover
OL OM OC BI BII BIII L-BAND spectrum
DRM30
above 30 MHz,
for AM including
broadcasting band I /
bands band II (FM).
up to 30
MHz: short ETSI ratified
DRM30 – Global use DRM+ on 2009-08-31;
wave,
medium wave ITU recomm.
and long prepared
wave
DAB
DAB+
Large
coverage DAB since
areas 2000 and
DAB+ since
Robust 2007 are
against fading world
and standard for
interference band III

5. DAB: Digital Audio Broadcasting
•For terrestrial digital broadcasting in Spain, we
have, among others, the DAB system.
•Designed for mobile receivers, allows a broad
DAB system range of audio coding options, additional data
and associated data services
•Similar quality to the compact disc
• In Spain, the National Technical Plan for
terrestrial digital audio broadcasting
DAB National provides for different networks at national
Technical Plan (3), regional and local levels.
• the system can operate single frequency
networks
5

6. DAB National Technical Plan
Frequency bands for DAB planned in Wiesbaden 95:
a) 195 - 216 MHz (8A - 10D)
b) 216 - 223 Mhz (11A - 11D)
c) 1452 - 1467,5 MHz (LA - LI)
d) 1467,5 - 1492 MHz

7. DAB National Technical Plan
Programme Bandwidth( Protectio
kbit/s) n level
R1 192 3
RC 224 3
R3 192 3
R5 192 3
REE 160 3

8. DAB stagnation
•First digital system legislated in Spain in 1999
DAB was the first • The Digital Radio Forum is responsible for the
digital system development of the Digital Radio in Spain
legislated in Spain • The 50% population coverage was reached
very fast but stagnated at 60% in 2006
DAB suffered a • In 2006, a Plan amendment was introduced
to delay the target of 80% and stood
slowdown in its • The reason for this break was obvious: the
development lack of audience
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9. Reasons for the stagnation of DAB
Launching Stagnation
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10. DAB revival
•As a result, the DAB is very inefficient
The DAB was compared to current standards
designed in the 80's •In 2003 two systems were invented for video,
of XX century DVB-H (6 times more efficient than DAB) and
DMB-T (4 times more efficient than DAB)
• In 2007 the consortium WorldDMB forum
DAB +: DAB updated the old DAB system
Upgrade • Although the old DAB was introduced in
Spain and other countries
2007 DAB+
2003 DVB-H
DMB-T
80’s DAB
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11. Geographic implantation : World
11

12. Geographic implantation : Europe
12

13. Need to evolve: DAB VS DAB +
Comparison •Audio codecs (compression), MP2 VS MPEG4
(AAC +): 192 kbit /s VS 64 kbit /s (triple)
between the old •Error Protection : DAB + increases robustness by
DAB and DAB + incorporating FEC code
Compliance with ITU • To compare codecs are conducted
hearing tests
recommendation • On a scale of 1 to 5, the results are shown in
BS-1116 the following table
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14. Need to evolve: DAB VS DAB +
DAB+ triples the •Tripling the capacity, carrying 18 programs at
64 kbit /s, 24 programs at 48 kbit /s at 1.5 MHz
number of •Or fewer programs with better quality MPEG
programs SURROUND
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15. Digital Radio Mondiale : replacement of the MW &SW
Countries with DRM members
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16. DRM: the replacement of the MW and SW
•Medium Wave holders may apply for licenses
Spanish regulatory to broadcast using digital technology, with
DRM standard
framework (Law •FM holders may apply for permission to
62/2003) broadcast in digital European standard (DRM
+ up to 120 MHz)
• The system has been approved by the ITU
System (ITU-R BS 1514) and standardized by the
IEC 62272-1
recommended by • It has been recommended by ITU-R, as the
ITU only global standard in the bands between
3 MHz and 30 MHz (shortwave)
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17. DRM: the replacement of the MW and SW
•RNE started digital broadcasts on medium
wave using DRM system on January 25, 2005
DRM on medium •DRM broadcast is done in daylight hours, from
wave in RNE the transmission centre of Arganda , 20 km far
from Madrid, in the frequency 1.359 kHz with
10 kw of power in stereo
• Broadcast to Central Europe in the
frequency 9780 kHz four hours a day
DRM on short wave
• Another broadcast is made from Costa
in RNE Rica to North America in the 9630 kHz
frequency
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18. DRM MADRID COVERAGE
Rich Media
Receiver
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19. CENTRAL EUROPE COVERAGE
Rich Media
Receiver
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20. Reasons to move towards Digital Radio
1 2
Digitization is For the Spanish
irreversible and Government, the
radio is the slope of
unstoppable course after the
(There won’t be an success of the DTT
analogue Iberian radio in
a digital Europe)
3 4
Transition costs There is a wide
(change of variety of portable,
modulators) are low home and car
(Government aid might be receivers with
requested) affordable prices