Inter-Tower Communications Network Signal Structure, and Interference Analysis for Terrestrial Broadcasting and Datacasting

This paper presents the Inter-Tower Communications Network (ITCN) signal structure using different combinations of multiplexing schemes, namely time-division multiplexing (TDM)/frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) and layer-division multiplexing (LDM). Data capacity is analyzed for mobile and fixed broadcasting services, as well as datacasting, inter-tower communication data, and SFN In-band Distribution Links (IDL). Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) is investigated for ITCN and IDL to increase the data throughput and to improve spectrum efficiency. The proposed technology can be Digital television (DTV) standard agnostic. It can be implemented on all existing DTV standards while keeping backward compatibility with legacy broadcast services and legacy TV receivers. A hybrid broadcast SFN overlay with ITCN/IDL data network using LDM might be the best solution considering backward compatibility, data capacity, and co-channel interference.