ACC Kuwait-Broadcasting Systems Kuwait

ACC provides complete turn key broadcasting systems solutions for encoding and decoding, distribution, monitoring, and archiving of analog & digital audio and video contents

KUWAIT MINISTRY OF INFORMATION

Project Name :DAB network
Project Overview : Digital Audio Broadcast System

In 2007 Kuwait's Ministry of Information awarded our company a contract to provide a turnkey project for a DAB/DMB, a fully redundant head-end system which had to be the encoding/multiplexing part of a complete DAB network for the Kuwait Ministry of Information. The system had to be based on a classical N+N redundancy method.

The main challenges were to implement the project within a short period of time and to install the antennas on top of the tower metal mast at Kuwait Liberation Tower.

ACC provided a turnkey integrated project including design, delivery, installation, commissioning, training, and support for the first DAB (Terrestrial Digital Audio Broadcast) station in the Middle East for the Kuwait's Ministry of Information (Kuwait Radio). The DAB transmitting system provided was in passive stand-by configuration as the core part of a turnkey solution featuring encoders & multiplexers, antenna system, supervisory system, and numerous DAB receivers.

The Kuwait DAB system is distributed over two locations. Both the service providing and ensemble providing equipments are located at the Kuwait Ministry of Information. The DAB ensemble is then converted to an optical signal and transmitted through a 12 core fiber (1.2 km) to the transmitters.

The DAB transmitting system (which includes the antenna system and DAB exciters with single board COFDM encoders) was installed at the Kuwait Liberation Tower, at a height of 190 meters above sea level. The transmitting system consists of a 2KW transmitter and a standby 500W transmitter each with its own exciter. A control/monitor unit provides auto and manual switching between the main and standby transmitters.

The DAB system was officially commissioned in February 2007 and operates in the VHF band III (174 – 220 MHz). 11B is the frequency that has been used (216.8 MHz). ACC provided the needed technical and operational training to make DAB in Kuwait a reality.

Currently, the system is operated by Radio Kuwait and there is a multiplex of 8 radio channels being broadcast. Content ranges from temporary music, both in English and Arabic to older more traditional music.

With this project, the Ministry of Information established the first digital audio broadcast station allowing listeners with proper equipment to receive high-fidelity audio programs.