Short Paper Proc. of Int. Conf.

on Advances in Computing, Control, and Telecommunication Technologies 2011

Prospects and Challenges of DAB/DAB+ in Future Radio Broadcasting in Bangladesh

Mohsena Chowdhury1, and M. Abdul Awal 2
North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh Email: mohsena.chowdhury@gmail.com 2 North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh Email: abdulawalbd@gmail.com, abdulawal@northsouth.edu
1

Abstract The world of digital radio broadcasting is evolving. The Eureka 147 family of standards, Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), DAB+ and DMB, is the only truly multimedia digital broadcasting standard to deliver both digital radio and mobile TV. In this paper a greater evolution of radio in Bangladesh is analyzed and discussed various need and opportunities of digital radio for future radio broadcasting in Bangladesh. A major study has been done on the international impact of DAB+. It is observed that Governments, regulators, broadcasters and manufacturers understand that todays listener is looking for more than just the classic radio experience and DAB and DAB+ are able to deliver this. This diversity is supported by the availability of a wide selection of products around the world including basic radios, high end audio systems, in-car devices, mobile phones, PMPs and much more. Multi-standard chips are being developed that will allow devices to work anywhere, irrespective of whether a broadcast is in DAB, DAB+ or DMB. The paper is premised on digital radio being used as a supplement to existing radio services in Bangladesh, rather than a replacement technology. As such, digital radio will be introduced in stages, allowing the radio sector to take advantage of digital opportunities and enabling consumers to benefit from new digital services that will operate alongside existing analoge radio services. The whole analysis is made under the close co-operation of Bangladesh Betar and private radio station, Radio Today and Radio Foorti of Bangladesh. Index TermsDigital Radio, Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), DAB+, DMB, AM / FM Broadcasting System

availability of spectrum is an issue, Eureka 147 technology solves the problem by providing a wealth of content on just one frequency. This has made it a popular choice of technology in Europe, South East Asia and Australia. [7]. More than half a billion people around the world can receive DAB services from over 1,000 radio stations. Regular services using one or more of the Eureka 147 standards are available across Europe, the Far East and Australia. Trials continue in countries as diverse as Israel, South Africa, Ghana, Lithuania, Kuwait and Sweden. Every year, more and more countries are bringing listeners the added choice, clarity and data services digital radio provides. II. BACKGROUND A. Evolution History of Radio Broadcasting in Bangladesh The relationship with radio and the people of Bangladesh dates back to the pre liberation war era when Radio Pakistan used to broadcast its transmission in the region now known as Bangladesh, which was liberated on December 16, 1971. In those days the only source of entertainment was listening to the radio, which definitely was not by design though. The broadcasting station Shadheen Bangla Betar reached its pinnacle during the 1971 liberation war being acclaimed as the stool pigeon of war news updates through Chorom Potro. During the war radio had played an important role. But the post war broadcasting scenario was quite different. By then other entertainment options were available to the general public and radio transmission lost its charm especially on the city. Around the late 902 s, most probably from the middle of 1999, a private radio channel named Radio Metro wave came into picture. It started its transmission in Dhaka for a few hours daily. Some of the programs/shows gained a lot of popularity but later, due to lack of enough audiences, they were obliged to shut the station off. In the late 2005, the government gave permission to set up three more new frequency modulation (FM) band radio channels. These are Radio Foorti (franchise of Radio Mirchi of India), Radio Amar, and ABC Radio. These stations added a new dimension in the lives of the Bengalis. Notable among those are, radio Foorti Radio Today, and Radio Amar. The sudden entrance of these private radio channels in our lives has changed the entertainment scene overnight. Various programs from three of these radio channels inspire people now to listen to radio in a new way. Radio is in 161

I. INTRODUCTION The world of broadcasting is very different today than it was just ten years ago. Digital television, digital phones and digital radio bring more diversity and communication power than ever before in human history. In the age of Twitter, social networking, Internet radio, YouTube, iPhone and mobile applications, radio needs to stay relevant. Digital radio can greatly improve the listeners experience, at the same time delivering added revenue streams, brand extension and station loyalty to the broadcasters. Digital radio has always offered the listener increased choice, now it also provides interactivity, data, images and exciting multimedia content. The main advantages of DAB+ are an increase in sound quality and less interference from other. A further advantage of this kind of broadcasting is the ability to record your favourite shows at the touch of a button. These shows can be stored on your device for you to come back to at a later date. In many parts of the world where the 2011 ACEEE DOI: 02.ACT.2011.03. 66

Short Paper Proc. of Int. Conf. on Advances in Computing, Control, and Telecommunication Technologies 2011 everyones ears, in the buses, tea stalls. Traffic updates are the most popular programs in all these radio channels as traffic woes grew in the Mega city Dhaka. As these radio stations gained acceptance it had been a blessing for the music industry. Record label companies found a bigger platform to promote their singed up artists music. They promote them on these radio channels by airing unreleased tracks or exclusive tracks of the artists. They have introduced a chart system, where a listener can vote for a certain track by sms. With this the record label companies can assess the popularity of that artist for a particular song. Until recently music label companies advertised using paper media and with 30 seconds clips on TV. According to the record label companies, their cassettes or cds sales have increased dramatically due to the radio promotions. Radio is replacing the trend of listening to car cd players while on the car. Radio has become a part of the daily life of the Bengalis. B. Current Radio Broadcasting Position The broadcasting stations of Bangladesh basically have analogue equipment, tapes or record archives. Many of the stations have started some isolated projects to digitize some of their analogue holdings. The catalogues of most of the archives are kept in lists, books or index cards. Many of the stations have either partly or fully changed their program production to digital and computer based systems. The newsrooms in most of the stations use computers for news access (Internet) and news editing. Radios become grown up an important form of media in Bangladesh as it is easily accessible especially to those in smaller communities. Many radio stations from Bangladesh are broadcast online. Bangladeshs national radio network is Bangladesh Betar or Radio. This government run station has several regional services operating throughout the country. Bangladesh Radio also has an external service that transmits to Nepal, Pakistan, India, the Middle East and Europe in seven languages. The broadcasting frequency spectrum is shared equitably and in the public interest among the three tiers of broadcasting public, private and community.
TABLE I. AVAILABLE RADIO BROADCASTERS IN BANGLADESH

C. Limitation of Conventional Broadcasting system in Bangladesh Limited Area Coverage: The coverage areas of these radio channels are limited till now as only the major cities like Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Barishal have these channels. Fewer Effective Radio Programs: The most of the listener of radio programs in Bangladesh are city dwellers whereas maximum listeners live in rural areas whose had required more effective programs for their livelihood. Shortage of Radio Station: The maximum number of radio station from Bangladesh Betar which coverage greater region than others. Very few FM radio stations are broadcast by four major FM private station-Radio Foorti, Radio Today, Radio Amar and ABC Radio Limited Radio Receivers: There is limited number of receivers in the country and all are analog (AM/FM) receivers which are maximum use in FM enable car and mobile. Very few portable receivers used in the country therefore very few listeners from home or office. Lack of New Broadcasting Technologies: In our this developing country the most recent technologies like HDTV and DTV, Mobile TV, IPTV, Digital Radio, Emergency Broadcasting are not entrance here yet. III. ARCHITECTURE OF THE SYSTEM Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) is a digital standard originally developed in the mid-1980s through funding from Eurekaa European intergovernmental initiative to encourage market-oriented industrial research and development. The Eureka 147 standard (DAB) includes two digital technologies: MPEG2, which is the compression, standard for digital audio signals; and Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (COFDM) interference radiofrequency technology, which maximizes spectrum efficiency and reduces susceptibility to many types of interference. DAB is a wideband technology, requiring a bandwidth of 1.536 MHz to accommodate a multiplex of several services. Broadcasting from different bands of the frequency spectrum directly affects the characteristics of AM, FM and DAB+ transmissions. Whilst AM is characterized by longer wavelengths, ensuring it can travel further but is subject to higher degrees of interference, FM broadcasts from VHF Band II (88-108MHz), a higher frequency resulting in shorter wavelengths. Whilst reception is largely improved compared to AM, interference may still occur. [1].

Fig-1: Radio Frequency Bands

DAB+ uses a transmission system similar to digital TV, broadcasting in VHF Band III (174-235MHz), a higher frequency than both AM and FM resulting in even shorter wave lengths. This spectrum efficient technology allows broadcasters to offer their listeners new digital only stations 2011 ACEEE DOI: 02.ACT.2011.03.66 162

Short Paper Proc. of Int. Conf. on Advances in Computing, Control, and Telecommunication Technologies 2011 using less spectrum. DAB+ uses a robust modulation which is designed for radio reception in mobile environments such as vehicles and trains. DAB+ also provides new features such as scrolling text, EPG, slideshow and in some receivers, animation. [4]
TABLE II FREQUENCY BANDS

Fig-3: Conceptual DAB Receiver

A. Generation of the DAB Signal In Figure 2 we can see how each service signal is coded individually at source level, error protected and time interleaved in the channel coder. Then the services are multiplexed in the Main Service Channel (MSC), according to a pre-determined, but adjustable, multiplex configuration. The multiplexer output is combined with Multiplex Control and Service information, which travel in the fast Information Channel (FIC), to form the transmission frames in the Transmission Multiplexer. Finally, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is applied to shape the DAB signal, which consists of a large number of carriers. The signal is then transposed to the appropriate radio frequency band, amplified and transmitted.[1]

IV. NEED AND OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS FOR BANGLADESH A. Objectives associated with Radio Broadcasting in Bangladesh a. Communications technologies are changing rapidly. b. The number of available programs is multiplying. c. New delivery mechanisms are appearing every day. d. Listeners are becoming used to interactivity. e. Consumers now want to decide where, when and what they want to see or hear; not the broadcasters. f. to protect freedom of expression; g. enhance the publics right to know through promoting pluralism and a wide variety of programming on matters of public interest; h.to encourage the provision of quality educational programming; i. rise up the widest possible geographic distribution of broadcasting services; j. develop and promote broadcasting reflecting national and regional culture and identity; B. Challenging Issues a. To avoid the occurrence of cliff effect. It may increase transmission. This would increase both the capital and operating costs for broadcasters and require detailed spectrum planning to avoid potential interference from adjacent services. b. Lack of attention and lack of available fund c. Archives services are not often requested d. Low qualification of archive personal e. Difficult environmental conditions f. Poor storage conditions g. Lack of a collection policy h. The region offers huge potential, but the regulatory environment is restricting development. i. Countries do not have the sufficient connectivity infrastructure. C. Potential values brought by adopting DAB+ REMARKABLE ROLE IN DISASTER MANAGE Radio broadcasting can be used for more effective early

Fig 2: Generation of DAB Signal

B. Reception of a DAB signal Figure 3 demonstrates a conceptual DAB receiver. The DAB ensemble is selected in the analogue tuner, the digitized output of which is fed to the OFDM demodulator and channel decoder to eliminate transmission errors. The information contained in the FIC is passed to the user interface for service selection and is used to set the receiver appropriately. The MSC data is further processed in an audio decoder to produce the left and right audio signals or in a data decoder (Packet Demux) as appropriate.[4]

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Short Paper Proc. of Int. Conf. on Advances in Computing, Control, and Telecommunication Technologies 2011 warning systems in the poor risky region by increasing the rate and accuracy of information flows from meteorological and disaster management organizations to broadcasters. RADIO AS A PUBLIC SERVICE Very poor public services are in Bangladesh where Digital Radio can take a vast role. Digital audio contents may form the youths, social and economic growth, preserve human rights and build skilled human resources. THE ROLE OF RADIO IN SOCIETY Radio is rapidly evolving to become a blend of passive and active content, audio and multimedia, listen live or listen later, even a social networking hub where listeners can share the same experience together. WARNING SYSTEM Early precaution and new symptoms of various diseases and other health warning care issues could make effective by digital radio. SPECIAL EVENTS In case of different special events that occur in particular region of the country may spread fast in whole region. SPECTRUM EFFICIENCY The adoption of DAB+ would enable metropolitan listeners to use their digital radios in regional areas and would take advantage of the wide availability of receivers. DIFFERENT NEW BUSINESS MODEL INTRODUCE Using DAB+ technology in regional markets may also encourage car manufacturers to install DAB+ receivers in new vehicles, providing a substantial benefit to metropolitan broadcasters and enabling regional broadcasters to draw on existing industry expertise with the technology. CONCLUSIONS Inadequate and unreliable communication infrastructure, poor power supply with frequent power failures, limited coverage and bandwidth whereas an essential issue, the next generation of radio broadcasting digital radio has greater potential to deliver a range of new and innovative services to this developing country Bangladesh. Todays economy depends on the increased flow of ideas and information across firms, organizations, governments, and countries nationally and internationally. Thus, the advancement of Technology, now-a-days has become the driving force of economic growth in developing countries. This analysis will contribute to the radio broadcasting technology in a developing country like Bangladesh, which has not yet been widely researched and validated. In this paper we propose for adoption of Digital Radio which is not replacing current services but it enhance the services and to be part of the social, economic and cultural development of Bangladesh. This new digital radio service can give extra coverage of special events beyond what can be provided by other FM Radio networks. REFERENCES
[1] Radio Broadcasting Systems; Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) to mobile, portable and fixed receivers. ETSI EN 300 401 V1.4.1, (200606). [2] Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM): System Specification. ETSI EN 201980v1.2.2 (2009-08) [3] NRSC-5-A In-band/on-channel Digital Radio Broadcasting Standard. [4] http://www.digitalradioplus.com.au [5] http://www.worlddab.org [6] http://www.radioochtv.se/Documents/Publikationer/The future of radio -Final report.pdf [7] Digital Radio Industry Report 2011 [8] An Audio Quality Evaluation of Commercial Digital Radio Systems , Lee, S.; Lee, Y.-T.; Seo, J.; Baek, M.-S.; Lim, C.-H.; Park, H.; Department of Electronics Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Korea-2011

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