Achieving ATSC 3.0 and 5G Broadcast Harmonization: Implementation and Deployment of TDM Coexistence

The convergence of broadcast and broadband technologies represents a critical evolution in media distribution. This session presents groundbreaking work in achieving practical coexistence between ATSC 3.0 and 5G Broadcast systems through Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), culminating in the first commercial deployment simultaneously transmitting both services from a single broadcast station.

Technical Innovation: Our implementation leverages the min_time_to_next field within the ATSC 3.0 bootstrap signal, a forward compatibility mechanism that enables flexible frame scheduling. The ATSC 3.0 specification (A/321) supports min_time_to_next values ranging from 50ms to 5300ms, providing substantial flexibility for TDM arrangements. By coordinating ATSC 3.0 frame transmission with 5G Broadcast’s LTE-based MBSFN architecture—including strategic CAS muting during ATSC 3.0 transmission periods—we achieved seamless coexistence without interference between the two systems.

Collaborative Development: Working in partnership among Castanet 5G, Neutral Wireless and DigiCAP, we successfully demonstrated TDM operation in laboratory and field environments. This collaboration addressed critical challenges including Studio-to-Transmitter Link (STL) configuration, precise timing synchronization, and receiver compatibility verification across both ATSC 3.0 and 5G Broadcast devices.

PoC (Proof-of-Concept) Deployment: The session highlights our pioneering PoC broadcast station deployment transmitting both ATSC 3.0 television services and 5G Broadcast mobile services from a single transmitter. This deployment validates the technical feasibility and demonstrates spectrum efficiency gains achievable through harmonized operation.

Industry Impact: This work advances ATSC S32 PHY specification development and provides a practical roadmap for broadcasters seeking to maximize spectrum utilization. Attendees will gain insights into implementation requirements, technical challenges overcome, measurement results from our PoC deployment, and future opportunities for broadcast-broadband convergence.

Target Audience: Broadcast engineers, network operators, equipment manufacturers, standards development participants, and industry stakeholders interested in next-generation broadcast technologies and spectrum optimization strategies.