Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service

Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS) is a point-to-multipoint interface specification for existing and upcoming 3GPP cellular networks, which is designed to provide efficient delivery of broadcast and multicast services, both within a cell as well as within the core network. For broadcast transmission across multiple cells, it defines transmission via single-frequency network configurations. Target applications include mobile TV and radio broadcasting, as well as file delivery and emergency alerts.

Deployment

In 2013,[1] Verizon was the first operator to announce that it will launch eMBMS services, in 2014, over its LTE networks. eMBMS is the LTE version of MBMS. AT&T subsequently announced plans to use the 700 MHz Lower D and E Block licenses it acquired in 2011 from Qualcomm for an LTE Broadcast service.[2]

In 2014, several major operators are lining to deploy and test the technology. The frontrunners being Verizon,[3] Reliance [4] and Kt. Questions remain whether the technology is an optimisation tool for the operator or if an operator can generate new revenues with it. Several studies have been published on the domain identifying both cost savings and new revenues.[5]

In July 2014, Nokia Networks demonstrated the use of LTE Broadcast to replace Traditional Digital TV.[6] This use case remains controversial as some study are doubting about the capability of LTE Broadcast to address this use case efficiently in its current version.[7]

In August 2014, Ericsson and Polkomtel successfully tested LTE broadcast technology by streaming the opening game of the 2014 World Volleyball Championship to hundreds of guests at Warsaw’s National Stadium in Poland on August 30.[8]

In September 2015, Verizon demonstrated MBMS by broadcasting Indy Racing League.[9]

In February 2016, Verizon indicates that MBMS is not a money maker.[10]

Competing technologies

Main competing technologies of MBMS include DVB-H/DVB-T, DVB-SH, DMB, ESM-DAB, and MediaFLO. However, due to spectrum scarcity and the cost of building new broadcast infrastructure some of these technologies may not be viable. MediaFLO has been deployed commercially in the US by Verizon Wireless through their relationship with MediaFLO USA, Inc. (a subsidiary of Qualcomm) however the service was shut down in early 2011.[11] DMB and DVB-H trials have been ongoing for more than a year now, like those during the football 2006 championships in Germany.

Huawei's proprietary CMB is a precursor to the Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service. It was specified in 3GPP R6 and is using existing UMTS infrastructure. Huawei says that CMB is based on existing UMTS infrastructure and real time streaming application protocol.

Technical description

The MBMS feature is split into the MBMS Bearer Service and the MBMS User Service and has been defined to be offered over both UTRAN (i.e. WCDMA, TD-CDMA and TD-SCDMA) and LTE (often referred to as eMBMS). The MBMS Bearer Service includes a Multicast- and a Broadcast Mode with only the Broadcast mode available over LTE. The MBMS Bearer Service uses IP multicast addresses for the IP flows. The advantage of the MBMS Bearer Service compared to unicast bearer services (interactive, streaming, etc.) is, that the transmission resources in the core- and radio network are shared.[12] One MBMS packet flow is replicated by GGSN, SGSN and RNCs. MBMS may use an advanced counting scheme to decide, whether or not zero, one or more dedicated (i.e. unicast) radio channels lead to a more efficient system usage than one common (i.e. broadcast) radio channel.

UTRAN MBMS offers up to 256 kbit/s per MBMS Bearer Service and between 800 kbit/s and 1.7 Mbit/s per cell/band. The actual cell capacity depends on the UE capabilities. GERAN MBMS offers between 32 kbit/s and 128 kbit/s. Up to 4 GSM timeslot may be used for one MBMS bearer in downlink direction. The actual data rate per Traffic Slot depends on network dimensioning.

The MBMS User Service is basically the MBMS Service Layer and offers a Streaming- and a Download Delivery Method. The Streaming Delivery method can be used for continuous transmissions like Mobile TV services. The Download Method is intended for “Download and Play” services. To increase the transmission reliability, an application layer FEC code may be used. Further, a file-repair service may be offered to complement the download delivery method.

MBMS has been standardized in various groups of 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project), and the first phase standards are found in UMTS release 6. As Release 6 was functionally frozen by the 3rd quarter of 2004, practical network implementations may be expected by the end of 2007, and the first functional mobile terminals supporting MBMS are estimated to be available by also end of 2007.

eMBMS has been standardized in various groups of 3GPP as part of LTE release 9. The LTE version of MBMS, referred to as Multicast-broadcast single-frequency network (MBSFN), supports broadcast only services and is based on a Single Frequency Network (SFN) based OFDM waveform and so is functional similar to other broadcast solutions such as DVB-H, -SH and -NGH.

3GPP technical specifications

MBMS Bearer Service (Distribution Layer):

(E-UTRAN); Overall description; Stage 2 (see chapter 15 for eMBMS)

E-UTRAN

MBMS User Service (Service Layer):

See also

References

  1. ↑ Verizon Eyes Broadcast Over LTE for Super Bowl 2014 By Chloe Albanesius, PC Magazine, January 8, 2013
  2. ↑ AT&T to use Lower 700 MHz D and E Block spectrum for LTE Broadcast By Phil Goldstein, FierceWireless, September 24, 2013
  3. ↑ Verizon Delivers LTE Multicast Over Commercial 4G LTE Network in Indy
  4. ↑ RJIL to invest in LTE broadcast technology
  5. ↑ An Analysis of 14 Different LTE Broadcast Business Cases
  6. ↑ Nokia Networks first to trial LTE for national TV broadcasting
  7. ↑ Delivery of Broadcast Content over LTE
  8. ↑ http://www.ericsson.com/news/1852728
  9. ↑ https://www.strategyanalytics.com/strategy-analytics/blogs/components/rf-wireless/rf-and-wireless/2015/09/01/lte-broadcast-launches-in-the-us#.VwVminUrKAo
  10. ↑ http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/verizon-video-not-money-maker-lte-broadcast/2016-02-23
  11. ↑ MediaFLO
  12. ↑ Delivering content with LTE broadcast By Thorsten Lohmar, Michael Slssingar, Vera Kenehan and Stif Puustinen, Ericsson Review, February 11, 2013
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