Predictions of coverage are essential for planning and preserving terrestrial broadcasting services. A prediction identifies a geographical area or a segment of the population which is considered to be covered by a transmitter network. In addition to the analysis, additional data are generated concerning aspects of coverage.

Predictions of coverage combine several components to provide reliable conclusions: a set of transmission data, wave-propagation models, the accumulation method, the synchronisation method, the protection-ratio method, reception scenarios and/or the Geographical Information System (GIS module). IRT relies on different experienced specialists for each of these approaches.

Data, such as received field strengths of various VHF and TV transmitters, must be gathered over a long period of time in order to improve predictions of brief intervals (interference). This is the only way to obtain statistically relevant information about short periods of time.

The Europe-wide digitalisation of broadcasting demands extensive coordination work to harmonise the frequency needs of individual countries. IRT has decades of experience in this context thanks to its role in coordination procedures with Germany’s public broadcasters.

Coordination work itself, however, is preceded by negotiations and agreements. Close working relationships with contact people in Germany and abroad are therefore a must for successful coordination. IRT’s experts know the people in charge of frequency planning in Germany and neighbouring countries. They also keep in close touch with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT), and Germany’s Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway (Bundesnetzagentur). Since our specialists themselves played an active role in drafting new coordination rules at ITU’s RRC-06 conference in Geneva in 2006, they are deeply aware of background issues and problems. And with planning tools and the appropriate database at their disposal, IRT’s experts can find optimum solutions to coordination problems. All in all, IRT provides comprehensive assistance on coordination matters thanks to its practical experience at all levels.

In today’s wireless information society, spectrum access is a key prerequisite for introducing new services. Demand for access to the spectrum is all but certain to increase in the broadcasting frequency ranges, as well. The digitalisation of broadcasting kindled interest in utilising the broadcasting spectrum for other services. This has helped mould the new concept of “digital dividends” and has sparked efforts to introduce numerous supplementary broadcasting services.

The growing trend toward flexibility is evinced by spectrum trading, the WAPECS concept and the so-called mask concept (RRC-06), which enables practically any service to operate under the mask of a broadcasting service. These innovations hint at a great number of complex compatibility issues in future between broadcasting and other services. This tendency of increasingly complicated joint use of broadcasting frequency ranges constitutes an ever greater challenge for frequency-management experts. It is more important than ever to ensure that consumers enjoy problem-free reception of broadcast content.

IRT examines the impact of new services on the broadcasting spectrum. We also represent the interests of Germany’s public broadcasters on all key committees of the ITU, CEPT and EBU. In this regard, IRT is particularly committed to the World Radio Conferences (WRCs) and the preparations prior to them. These conferences take place every three years and are the best opportunity worldwide for administering and modifying spectrum utilisation.

IRT’s experience and extensive expertise enable it to investigate the compatibility of various systems with broadcasting technology. Moreover, our skills and contacts grant us an active role in defining spectrum utilisation on a global scale.

To name but a few examples, we examine compatibility between broadcasting applications and SRDs (Short-Range Devices), UMTS, BSS (Broadcast Satellite Service), air-ground communications, UWB (Ultra-Wide Band), military applications and wired communication networks.

Das IRT untersucht, wie sich die Einführung neuer Dienste auf das Rundfunkspektrum auswirkt. Es verfügt über die notwendige Erfahrung und das entsprechend breite Know-How, um die verschiedenen Systeme auf ihre Verträglichkeit mit Rundfunk zu untersuchen, aber auch über die Kenntnisse und Kontakte, um im internationalen Gestaltungsprozess der Spektrumsnutzung aktiv mitzuwirken. Deswegen vertreten wir in diesen Angelegenheiten den deutschen öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunk in allen wichtigen Gremien der ITU, CEPT und EBU. In diesem Zusammenhang ist das IRT insbesondere in die WRCs und ihre Vorbereitung stark involviert. Die in dreijährigem Turnus stattfindenden World Radio Conferences (WRC) bilden die wichtigsten Stationen bei der Verwaltung und Neugestaltung der Spektrumsnutzung auf internationaler Ebene.

FRANSY is a frequency-analysis software tool used in planning terrestrial transmitter networks for DVB-T, T-DAB, analogue TV and VHF/FM.

IRT developed this Java-based software in conjunction with its partner con terra and public broadcasters.

Further information