CellTV - on the Benefit of TV Distribution over Cellular Networks A Case Study

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the feasibility and benefits of replacing traditional terrestrial TV broadcasting with a cellular network-based system called CellTV, considering different environments and future viewing trends.

Contribution

It provides a quantitative analysis of CellTV's potential benefits and limitations, highlighting conditions under which it can be spectrum-efficient and advantageous.

Findings

CellTV can be beneficial with increased localized and on-demand content.

Current viewing patterns limit spectrum efficiency of CellTV as a replacement.

Significant infrastructure upgrades are necessary for CellTV to be a viable alternative.

Abstract

As mobile IP-access is becoming the dominant technology for providing wireless services, the demand for more spectrum for this type of access is increasing rapidly. Since IP-access can be used for all types of services, instead of a plethora of dedicated, single-service systems, there is a significant potential to make spectrum use more efficient. In this paper, the feasibility and potential benefit of replacing the current terrestrial UHF TV broadcasting system with a mobile, cellular data (IP-) network is analyzed. In the cellular network, TV content would be provided as {one} of the services, here referred to as CellTV. In the investigation we consider typical Swedish rural and urban environments. We use different models for TV viewing patterns and cellular technologies as expected in the year 2020. Results of the quantitative analysis indicate that CellTV distribution can be beneficial if the TV consumption trend goes towards more specialized programming, more local contents, and more on-demand requests. Mobile cellular systems, with their flexible unicast capabilities, will be an ideal platform to provide these services. However, the results also demonstrate that CellTV is not a spectrum-efficient replacement for terrestrial TV broadcasting with current viewing patterns (i.e. a moderate number of channels with each a high numbers of viewers). In this case, it is doubtful whether the expected spectrum savings can motivate the necessary investments in upgrading cellular sites and developing advanced TV receiver required for the success of CellTV distribution.