As Turkey prepares to roll out an extensive digital terrestrial TV network using DVB-T2, a workshop in Istanbul next month will take stock of the lessons learned in markets that have already deployed the standard. DigiTAG, the EBU-supported digital terrestrial TV action group, is organizing the workshop (14-15 November).

With Istanbul sitting at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, the workshop will focus in particular on emerging markets in the surrounding region. Many of these countries are coming to digital TV later than in more developed markets, so there is an opportunity to jump straight to the more advanced DVB-T2 system, enabling more efficient use of spectrum and the immediate rollout of HDTV.

Implementation issues

The DigiTAG workshop will address a wide range of issues that implementers need to consider, picking up on the experiences of those who have already launched DVB-T and/or DVB-T2 services. The agenda will cover network and frequency planning, energy use and sustainability, product testing and compliance, and much more. A number of EBU Members will be among the speakers.

The host country will serve as a useful case study, with presentations from the government and regulator, plus local broadcasters and manufacturers. The DTT platform in Turkey is set to launch in Ankara in November 2013. It will launch region-by-region with the simulcast period in each region to last approximately 6 months. Analogue switch-off is to be completed by 3 March 2015.

Fell takes up DigiTAG presidency

Simon Fell, the new EBU Director of Technology & Innovation, has also taken over the presidency of DigiTAG on an interim basis, with elections due to be held in December. He has expressed his support for the work DigiTAG is doing in defending terrestrial broadcasting and the spectrum it needs to thrive. “DigiTAG is the place to help guide the process; there is a large amount of work that needs to be done in this area to protect broadcasters and consumers through these spectrum changes," he said.