Multimedia broadcast multicast service: new transmission schemes and related challenges

MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service) is a service offered by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) cellular networks for the distribution of multimedia content and competes with technologies like DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting - Handhelds) and DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting). For MBMS in LTE (Long Term Evolution), 3GPP discussed two different radio transmission schemes: one with cells transmitting in an uncoordinated way and one with cells synchronously transmitting such that signals from several cells are perceived as one signal at the user terminal. We will discuss related challenges such as the choice of a suitable transmission scheme, the coordination of base stations for the synchronized transmission of content, and mobility between areas of different transmission schemes.