Suitability of ITU-R P.1546 propagation predictions for allocating LTE SDL with GE06

The compatibility of Geneva 2006 frequency plan (GE06) assignments and allocations for digital terrestrial television (DTT) is determined using ITU-R P.1546 propagation prediction method. The aim of this paper is to study the suitability of using ITU-R P.1546 propagation predictions for allocating Long Term Evolution (LTE) Supplemental Downlink (SDL) to broadcast Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) in the UHF TV band. This paper presents a field measurement campaign to study the accuracy of P.1546 propagation predictions for LTE base station signals in the close vicinity of the LTE base station, where DTT reception interference and overloading events are most likely to occur. The ITU-R P.1546 prediction signal strength in general was higher than the measured field strength, which means that using ITU-R P.1546 propagation predictions could thus overestimate the probability of interference events to DTT reception. The paper also studies use of more sophisticated site-specific propagation prediction methods, but the considered short-range propagation paths were found to be very difficult to predict regardless of the used method. The location-by-location analysis indicates that the propagation predictions are less accurate in the locations where the line-of-sight (LOS) or first Fresnel zone are obstructed.