Interference Management for the Coexistence of DTTV and LTE Systems within the Proposed Digital Dividend Band in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper seeks to present the Interference Management for the Coexistence of DTTV and LTE Systems within the proposed digital dividend band in Nigeria. The study focused on LTE Down-link (DL) signal from the nearest cell site interfering with the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTTV) fixed outdoor receiving antenna in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The qualitative signal analysis of the DTTV systems is essential as DTTV system cannot start to operate in the newly formed frequency band without the evaluation of the possible harmful influence of the coexisting systems. This research work investigated the Compatibility of the two systems and the Probability of interference of Channel 17 (490MHz) and Channel 51 (693MHz) when DTTV and LTE systems coexist within the proposed Digital Dividend band. A test-bed approach method was adopted for the generation of the required simulation data. Star Time transmitting Station in Port Harcourt and Smile LTE 4G Communication LTE Base Station (eNBs) Network also in Port Harcourt were adopted as the Victim Link Transmitter (VLT) and Interfering Link Transmitter (ILT) respectively. Data was obtained, analyzed, and evaluated. It was observed from the simulation result that the probability of interference is a function of the separation distance between ILT and VLR. The Compatibility analysis result shows that the resulting C/I is above the protection criteria (19dB), that is there’s a minimal rate of interference. Hence, the interference issue can be managed when the two systems coexist in700MHz band. It was also established that DTTV channel 51 suffers more interference when compared with DTTV channel 17 for the same separation distance. The study recommended the minimum protection distance approach (Interference Avoidance method) as the interference management techniques when DTTV and LTE systems coexist in the proposed digital dividend (700MHz) band in Nigeria.