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Feature
January-2012

PacketCable
The Technology for Advanced
Real-Time Multimedia Cable TV Services
Indian M&E Industry Set For Enormous Growth
Cable TV Industry Projected to Grow@12% to Reach $11.4 Billion By 2014
 
PacketCable
The Technology for Advanced
Real-Time Multimedia Cable TV Services

PacketCable is a CableLabs-led initiative technology to develop interoperable interface specifications for delivering advanced, real-time multimedia services over two-way cable TV plant. Cable operators will be able to offer a myriad of services, including basic and extended telephony services delivered more efficiently and at lower cost over the broadband cable access network. CableLabs leads this initiative for interoperable interface specifications in order to deliver real-time multimedia services over two-way cable networks.

Built on top of the industry’s DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) cable modem infrastructure, PacketCable networks use the Internet Protocol (IP) to enable a wide range of multimedia services, such as Voice over IP (IP telephony), multimedia conferencing, interactive gaming, and general multimedia applications. A DOCSIS network with PacketCable extensions enables cable operators to deliver data and voice traffic efficiently using a single high-speed, quality-of-service (QoS)-enabled broadband (cable) architecture.

Technological summary

PacketCable interconnects 3 networks

• Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) Access Network
• Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
• TCP/IP Managed IP Networks

Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) Access Network

The fiber optic network extends from the cable operators' master headend, sometimes to regional headends, and out to a neighbourhood's hubsite, and finally to a fiber optic node which serves anywhere from 25 to 2000 homes. A master headend will usually have satellite dishes for reception of distant video signals as well as IP aggregation routers. Some master headends also house telephony equipment for providing telecommunications services to the community. A regional or area headend/hub will receive the video signal from the master headend and add to it the Public, educational, and government access (PEG) cable TV channels as required by local franchising authorities or insert targeted advertising that would appeal to a local area. The various services are encoded, modulated and upconverted onto RF carriers, combined onto a single electrical signal and inserted into a broadband optical transmitter. This optical transmitter converts the electrical signal to a downstream optically modulated signal that is sent to the nodes. Fibre optic cables connect the headend or hub to optical nodes in a point-to-point or star topology, or in some cases, in a protected ring topology.

A fibre optic node has a broadband optical receiver which converts the downstream optically modulated signal coming from the headend/hub to an electrical signal going to the homes. Today, the downstream signal is a radio frequency modulated signal that typically begins at 50 MHz and ranges from 550 MHz to 1000 MHz on the upper end. The fibre optic node also contains a reverse/return path transmitter that sends communication from the home back to the headend. In North America, this reverse signal is a modulated radio frequency ranging from 5 to 42 MHz while in other parts of the world, the range is 5 to 65 MHz.

The optical portion of the network provides a large amount of flexibility. If there are not many fiber optic cables to the node, wavelength division multiplexing can be utilised to combine multiple optical signals onto the same fiber. Optical filters are used to combine and split optical wavelengths onto the single fiber. For example, the downstream signal could be on a wavelength at 1310nm and the return signal could be on a wavelength at 1550nm. There are also techniques to put multiple downstream and upstream signals on a single fiber by putting them at different wavelengths.

The coaxial portion of the network connects 25 to 2000 homes (500 is typical) in a tree-and-branch configuration off of the node. Radio frequency amplifiers are used at intervals to overcome cable attenuation and passive losses of the electrical signals caused by splitting or "tapping" the coaxial cable. Trunk coaxial cables are connected to the optical node and form a coaxial backbone to which smaller distribution cables connect. Trunk cables also carry AC power which is added to the cable line at usually either 60V or 90V by a power supply and a power inserter. The power is added to the cable line so that trunk and distribution amplifiers do not need an individual, external power source. From the trunk cables, smaller distribution cables are connected to a port of the trunk amplifier to carry the RF signal and the AC power down individual streets. If needed, line extenders, which are smaller distribution amplifiers, boost the signals to keep the power of the television signal at a level that the TV can accept. The distribution line is then "tapped" into and used to connect the individual drops to customer homes. These taps pass the RF signal and block the AC power unless there are telephony devices that need the back-up power reliability provided by the coax power system. The tap terminates into a small coaxial drop using a standard screw type connector known as an “F” connector. The drop is then connected to the house where a ground block protects the system from stray voltages. Depending on the design of the network, the signal can then be passed through a splitter to multiple TVs. If too many splitters are used to connect multiple TVs, the signal levels will decrease, and picture quality on analog channels of TVs past those splitters will go down requiring the use of a "drop" or "house" amplifier.

By using frequency division multiplexing, an HFC network may carry a variety of services, including analogue TV, digital TV (SDTV or HDTV), Video on demand, telephony, and high-speed data. Services on these systems are carried on Radio Frequency (RF) signals in the 5 MHz to 1000 MHz frequency band.

The HFC network can be operated bi-directionally, meaning that signals are carried in both directions on the same network from the headend/hub office to the home, and from the home to the headend/hub office. The forward-path or downstream) signals carry information from the headend/hub office to the home, such as video content, voice and internet data. The return-path or upstream signals carry information from the home to the headend/hub office, such as control signals to order a movie or internet data to send an email. The forward-path and the return-path are actually carried over the same coaxial cable in both directions between the optical node and the home. In order to prevent interference of signals, the frequency band is divided into two sections. In countries that have traditionally used NTSC System M, the sections are 52 MHz to 1000 MHz for forward-path signals, and 5 MHz to 42 MHz for return-path signals. Other countries use different band sizes, but are similar in that there is much more bandwidth for downstream communication instead of upstream communication.

Traditionally, since video content was sent only to the home, the HFC network was structured to be non-symmetrical: one direction has much more data-carrying capacity than the other direction. The return-path was originally only used for some control signals to order movies, etc., which required very little bandwidth. As additional services have been added to the HFC network, such as internet access and telephony, the return-path is being utilised more.

Multiple System Operators (MSOs) developed methods of sending the various services over RF signals on the fiber optic and coaxial copper cables. The original method to transport video over the HFC network and, still the most widely used method, is by modulation of standard analogue TV channels which is similar to the method used for transmission of over-the-air broadcast. See broadcast television system for more information. One analogue TV channel occupies a 6 MHz-wide frequency band in NTSC-based systems, or an 8 MHz-wide frequency band in PAL or SECAM-based systems. Each channel is centered on a specific frequency carrier so that there is no interference with adjacent or harmonic channels. To be able to view a digitally modulated channel, home, or customer-premises equipment (CPE), e.g. digital televisions, computers, or set-top boxes, are required to convert the RF signals to signals that are compatible with display devices such as analogue televisions or computer monitors. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has ruled that consumers can obtain a cable card from their local MSO to authorize viewing digital channels. By using digital compression techniques, multiple standard and high-definition TV channels can be carried on one 6 or 8 MHz frequency carrier thus increasing the channel carrying-capacity of the HFC network by 10 times or more versus an all analogue network. Note that a digital tuner (i.e. TV set-top box) is not required for standard analogue TV channels since most televisions have integrated analogue tuners that can decode the signal, unless some type of scrambling is used.

Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)

The public switched telephone network (PSTN) is the network of the world's public circuit-switched telephone networks. It consists of telephone lines, fiber optic cables, microwave transmission links, cellular networks, communications satellites, and undersea telephone cables, all inter-connected by switching centers, thus allowing any telephone in the world to communicate with any other. Originally a network of fixed-line analog telephone systems, the PSTN is now almost entirely digital in its core and includes mobile as well as fixed telephones.

TCP/IP Managed IP Networks

The Internet protocol suite is the set of communications protocols used for the Internet and other similar networks. It is commonly known as TCP/IP from its most important protocols: Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP), which were the first networking protocols defined in this standard.

PacketCable Protocols

• DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) - standard for data over cable and details mostly the RF band

• Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) & Real Time Control Protocol (RTCP) required for media transfer

• PSTN Gateway Call Signaling Protocol Specification (TGCP) which is an MGCP extension for Media Gateways

• Network-Based Call Signaling Protocol Specification (NCS) which is an MGCP extension for analog residential Media

• Gateways - the NCS specification, which is derived from the IETF MGCP RFC 2705, details VoIP signalling.

• Basically the IETF version is a subset of the NCS version. The Packet Cable group has defined more messages and features than the IETF.

• Common Open Policy Service (COPS) for Quality of Service

Codec Specifications

• Required

• ITU G.711 (both µ-law and a-law algorithm versions) - for V1.0 & 1.5
• iLBC - for V1.5
• BV16 - for V1.5

• Recommended

• ITU G.728
• ITU G.729 Annex E

Version

PacketCable 1.0

PacketCable 1.0 comprises eleven specifications and six technical reports which define the call signaling, Quality of Service (QoS), Codec, client provisioning, billing event message collection, PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) interconnection, and security interfaces necessary to implement a single-zone PacketCable solution for residential Internet Protocol (IP) voice services.

PacketCable 1.5

PacketCable 1.5 contains additional capabilities that do not exist in PacketCable 1.0, and superseded previous versions (1.1, 1.2, and 1.3).PacketCable 1.5 comprises 21 specifications and one technical report which together define the call signaling, Quality of Service (QoS), Codec, client provisioning, billing event message collection, PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) interconnection, and security interfaces necessary to implement a single-zone or multi-zone PacketCable solution for residential Internet Protocol (IP) voice services.

PacketCable 2.0

Version 2.0 introduces IMS Release 7 IP Multimedia Subsystem into the core of the architecture. Packet Cable uses a simplified IMS in some areas and enhances it in some cable-specific areas. PacketCable defined Delta specs related to the most important IMS specs from 3GPP.
Indian M&E Industry Set For Enormous Growth
Cable TV Industry Projected to Grow@12% to Reach $11.4 Billion By 2014


India's media and entertainment sectors will increase their overall revenue by over 50 percent to about $25 billion by 2015, according to a new report published by accounting and consulting firm Ernst & Young. The report, "Spotlight on India's Entertainment Economy: Seizing New Growth Opportunities," indentifies the world's second-most populous country as a hot spot for global media and entertainment investment.

"Companies in the U.S. and Western Europe see their growth increasingly linked to emerging giants like India, which is why they are now focused on the best way to enter, grow and brand their business in this market," the report says. Notably, Ernst & Young says that newspapers account for 42 percent of all advertising money spent in India -- the most of any medium. "Media sectors regarded as 'sunset' industries in mature markets are flourishing in India, presenting global media companies with exciting opportunities to counter declining revenues," Ernst & Young says.

The study, 'Spotlight on India's Entertainment Economy', looks at the surge in investment by global media companies and the significant opportunities presented by digital media for the South Asian nation. 'A surge in mass broadband adoption is expected, led by the launch of 3G and 4G [mobile] services. By 2015, 90% of India's projected 187 million broadband subscribers will access the net through wireless devices,' says Ernst & Young. Alongside this, economic liberalisation, near double-digit annual growth, and a fast growing middle class are major factors in India's M&E sector surge.

Key findings from the report include:

 India’s increasing per capita income, growing middle class and working population are generating huge domestic demand for leisure and entertainment. The country has more than 600 television channels, 100 million pay-television households, 70,000 newspapers and produces more than 1,000 films annually.

 India has diverse regional markets with distinct cultures, languages and content preferences. These markets provide global media and entertainment companies with a variety of opportunities to deliver localized content.

 India’s favorable regulations and reforms are creating investment opportunities for global media and entertainment companies.

 The newspaper industry, which is facing declining readership in many international markets, continues to thrive in India, driven by increasing literacy rates, consumer spending and the growth of regional markets and specialty newspapers. Newspapers account for 42% of all advertising spend in India, the most of any medium.

 The mandatory digitization of India's television distribution infrastructure is driving growth of digital cable and DTH and creating a need for these companies to fund expansion.

 The third phase of radio license auctions, expected soon, will see radio networks expanding their reach to add around 700 radio stations across the country.

"The M&E industry in India has been, and will continue to be, one of the biggest beneficiaries of India's favourable demographics," said Farokh Balsara, media and entertainment leader for Europe, Middle East, India and Africa, Ernst & Young. "Having one of the world's youngest populations, high volumes of content consumption, a favourable regulatory framework and growing digital adoption, makes India an attractive investment destination for global media and entertainment companies."

However, the Indian average revenue per user (ARPU) remains among the lowest in the world, while signal piracy is rampant in India and accounts for in excess of $4 billion per year. "The growth strategies in most companies in the US and Western Europe are linked to India and other emerging markets," said John Nendick, global media and entertainment leader, Ernst & Young. "However, to succeed in India, global media and entertainment companies need to navigate unique challenges in the areas of content localization, distribution and pricing, regulations and piracy."

Cable Television sector

The broadcasting and cable TV industry revenue for 2010 was estimated at $7.2 billion (Rs 36,000 crore), up 13.3 per cent from the previous year, mainly driven by a 19 per cent growth in advertising revenue. The industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12 per cent to reach $11.4 billion (Rs 57,000 crore) by 2014. The continued digitisation of distribution infrastructure, the demand for regional and niche content, and the possibility of growth in TV penetration will drive growth in this segment.

TV distribution sector

India is the second-largest pay-TV market in the world, with 108 million subscribers and 48 per cent reach to Indian households. The TV distribution industry is dominated by analog cable, which is highly fragmented and includes about 60,000 LCOs, and 1,000 multi-system operators (MSOs). However, fierce competition among DTH operators, as well as a recent government policy mandating the digitisation of cable TV, has driven the growth of digital TV.

Publishing sector

The Indian publishing industry revenue for 2010 was estimated at $4.7 billion (Rs 23,500 crore), and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11 per cent to reach $7.1 billion (Rs 35,500 crore) by 2014. A low-readership penetration of 30 per cent compared with a literacy rate of 74 per cent underscores the potential for further growth for publishing in India.

Newspaper & magazine sector

While in a number of international markets, the newspaper industry is faced with a declining readership because of digital media, the print industry in India continues to grow, driven by an increase in advertising spends, a rise in literacy rates, and the growth of regional-language and specialty newspapers. The Indian newspaper industry is one of the largest in the world, with more than 74,000 newspapers in 22 languages, and a readership of 325 million. Fifty four newspapers are very popular with advertisers in India, accounting for 42 per cent of all advertising spends, the most for any medium. Magazines comprise around 19 per cent of the total publishing industry in India. They are viewed as a luxury product, and rely heavily on newsstand sales rather than subscription sales.

Cinema sector

The Indian film industry is the largest in the world, with more than 1,000 films produced every year, in more than 20 languages. With 3.3 billion tickets sold annually, India also has the highest number of theatre admissions. The Indian film market derives almost 90 per cent of its revenue from non-English language movies, largely dominated by Hindi films, followed by South Indian films and other regional films. The Indian film industry is projected to grow from $3.2 billion (Rs 16,000 crore) in 2010 to $5 billion (Rs 25,000 crore) by 2014 at a CAGR of 14.1 per cent. Growth is expected from the expansion of multiplexes in smaller cities, investments by foreign studios in domestic and regional productions, the growing popularity of niche movies, and the emergence of digital and ancillary revenue streams.

FM & music sector

The FM and music industries contribute just 2.4 per cent of the total Indian M&E industry revenues. Both segments, however, provide highly popular forms of entertainment; FM radio reaches out to 30 per cent Indians, while the Indian youth are the second largest audience for paid digital music globally. The radio and music industries together generate around $445 million in 2010, and are projected to grow at a CAGR of 17.3 per cent to reach $844 million (Rs 4220 crore) by 2014. The third phase of FM license auctions, which is expected soon, will see radio networks expanding their reach to add around 700 radio stations across the country.

Sports sector

Cricket is the most popular spectator sport in India, and follows movies as the second-biggest form of entertainment. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is already one of the most valuable sporting brands in the world, currently valued at $3.7 billion (Rs 18,500 crore). Interest in other sports has increased since India hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games, challenging the notion that it is a single-sport country. This momentum, combined with a young population and a rising propensity to spend on leisure, presents the sports industry with a number of growth opportunities.