Digital satellite transmission standards: an overview of the DVB satellite specification and its implementation

The DVB satellite standard has been a powerful influence on the take up of digital direct-to-home services via satellite throughout the world. It has provided a single flexible standard which is well matched to the various satellite and broadcast configurations proposed or adopted in most of the countries planning to launch such services. The adoption of the MPEG-2 source coding and multiplex standard has also ensured that commonality between broadcast services (in satellite, cable, terrestrial and other delivery medium) is ensured. The paper outlines the key features of the DVB digital satellite standard, its relation to other DVB standards for cable, terrestrial and MMDS digital transmission and the key aspects of the European Directive on television transmission standards approved by the Council of Ministers