Technical Specifications for Set -Top Box of Multimedia 
Content Distribution Platform on a Fixed Telecommunications 
Network  
General Descriptions of Drafted Proposal  
 
At the current stage, subscribers need  to install a set -top box for reception  the 
multimedi a on demand (MOD) services  provided by  the local network operators  through 
the multimedia content distribution platform.  To implement  in accordance with  Article 1 of 
Fundamental Communications Act , to protect consumers’ interests, NCC hereby stipulates 
“Technical Specifications for Set -Top Box of Multimedia Content Distribution Platform on 
a Fixed Telecommunications Network” (hereinafter shortened as “the Specifications”) 
according to  Paragraph 1 of Article 42 of Telecommunications Act as well as relevant 
national and international standards. Below are the keys of the Specifications:  
1. Legal Accordance ( point 1); 
2. Scope of Applications ( point 2); 
3. Technical Standards ( point 3); 
4. Definition of Terms ( point 4); 
5. Testing Items and Approval Standards (point 5).   Techn ical Specifications for Set -Top Box of Multimedia Content 
Distribution Platform on a Fixed Telecommunications Network  
Draft   
Regulations  Descriptions  
1 Legal Accordance  
   The Specifications are stipulated pursuant to 
Paragraph 1 of Article 42 of 
Telecomm unications  Act. The basis  of the Specifications  
2  Scope of Applications  
   The Specifications are applicable  to terminal 
equipment of Internet Protocol (IP) physical 
interface that is equipped with Ethernet port 
and is able to receive and demodulate sig nals 
transmitted by multimedia  content distribution 
platforms  for subscribers to receive images, 
sounds or information. Set -top boxes that are 
integrated into the television are exempted 
from the tests as described in Article 5.8 and 
Article 5.9 of the Spe cifications.  Applicable scope of the Specifications  
3 Technical Standards  
The specifications are stipulated in 
accordance with CNS 13438, CNS 14336 -1, 
CNS 14357 series, CNS 14676 -4, CNS 
14676 -5 and international technical standards, 
including ETSI EN 300  468, EN 300 743,  
TS 101 154.  The national and international standards  that 
the Specifications are based on.  
4 Definition of Terms  
4.1 Set-top box: refers to set -top box of 
multimedia content distribution 
platform.  
4.2 Multimedia content distribution pl atform  
head -ends (hereinafter referred to as the 
head -ends): refers to the equipment and 
its location for receiving, demodulating 
and transmitting cable radio and 
television signals to the cable 
transmission network.  
4.3 Multimedia content distribution pl atform  
signal: refers to signals that local 
network business  operators transmit to 
broadcast images, sounds or information 
for direct public reception by laying the 
cables.   
4.4 Video compression standards  
4.4.1  SDTV  adopts  MPEG -2 or 
H.264/MPEG -4 A VC  compr ession 
standards.  
4.4.2  HDTV  adopts  H.264/MPEG -4 
A VC  compression standards.  
4.5 Audio compression standards:  adopts  
MPEG -1, MPEG -2, AC-3 (Dolby 
Digital 5.1  channel ), or HE-AAC  
compression standards.  1. Definition of terms of the Specifications.  
2. To be clear and definite with the scope of 
applications of the Specifications,  define  
the terms used in the Specifications, 
including set -top box, head-end of 
multimedia content distribution platform, 
signals, video / audio compression 
standards, high/ standard definition 
programs, MEPG -2, service information, 
program channels, transport stream , real -
time control control protocol, real -time 
transport  control protocol, inserted 
characters and Non-Video on Demand .  
  4.6 High -Definition Programs: refers to 
digital programs with 1280 x 720p 
above resolution and compressed with 
the H.264/MPEG -4 A VC or VC -1 
standards.  
4.7 Standard Quality Programs: refers to 
digital programs with 720 x 480i above 
and 1280 x 720p below resolution, and 
compressed with MPEG -2, 
H.264/MPEG -4 A VC or VC-1 standards.  
4.8 MPEG -2: as referred in CNS 14357
series standards. Among them, the 
system coding is defined in Part I, video 
coding in Part II, and sound coding in 
Part III.  
4.9 Service Information (SI) : refers to digital 
data used to describe the deli very 
system, content, schedule and time 
series of broadcast data stream, and 
program specific information (PSI) 
based on CNS 14357 -1 MPEG -2, such 
as Electronic Program Guides (EPGs).  
4.10 Program Channels: refer to channels that 
load programs and advertise ment among 
television channels.  
4.11 Transport Stream  (TS):  an information 
structure defined according to CNS 
14357 -1 (Information technology -
Generic coding of moving pictures and 
associated audio in formation -Part 
1:Systems ).  
4.12 Real-Time Transport Con trol Protocol  
(RTCP ): according to the definition of  
RFC 3550 . 
4.13 Real-Time Streaming Protocol  (RTSP): 
according to the definition of RFC  2326 . 
4.14 Inserted Characters: refer to text or 
graphics appearing on the TV screen that 
have been edited and compiled and not 
part of the original contents being 
transmitted.  
4.15 Non-Video on Demand: refers to 
program videos of broadcasting  
television  channels on the multimedia 
content transporting platform .   5 Testing Items and Approval Standards  
5.1 EMC: the EMI of EMC shall comply 
with CNS  13438 . 
5.2 Electrical Safety (Safety) shall comply 
with CNS 14 336-1. 
5.3 Reliability:  
5.3.1  No crash occ urs during the 
broadcast for a continuous 12 
hours.  
5.3.2  No locking effect, frame freezing, 
fram e skipping, crackl ing or ceased 
audio  during the program 
broadcast. A minimum four-hour 
test shall  be conducted . 
5.4 Video and audio format:   
5.4.1  Video  signa ls:  
5.4.1.1  Standard definition ( SD): shall 
accurately decode and 
broadcast video signals  that 
comply with CNS 14357 -2 
MPEG -2 MP
 ML, ISO/IEC 
MPEG -4 A VC/H.264 HP
 L4, 
ETSI TS 101 154, or the new 
generation video compression 
standards.  
5.4.1.2  High definiti on (HD): shall 
accurately decode and 
broadcast video signals that 
comply with ISO/IEC MPEG -4 
A VC/H.264 HP
 L4, ETSI TS 
101 154 , or the new generation 
video compression standards.  
5.4.2  Audio signals:  shall accurately 
decode and broadcast audio signals 
that comply with ETSI TS 101 154 
or the new generation audio 
compression standards.  
5.5 Duration for switching program 
channel s:  
5.5.1  Time required for the appearance 
of images of next program channel 
after the end of images of previous  
channel program shall  be ≦2 
seconds.  
5.5.2  The program switch test s as 
described in 5.5.1 shall be 
switch ed from non -VOD SD 
programs to non -VOD HD 
programs, non -VOD HD programs 
to non -VOD SD programs, and 
non-VOD HD programs to non - 
VOD HD programs.  
5.6 Video and audio synchroniza tion shift: 
within ±20 milliseconds (ms).  Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), 
electrical safety, reliability, video and audio 
format, duration for switching program 
channels, video and audio synchronization 
shift, service information, audio output, video 
output, reception interface (including durance 
to lightning surge ), USB extension service, 
video recording function, reception records, 
working environment, standards for advan ced 
functional requirements and relevant testing 
are defined according to national and 
international standards. Applicants shall 
comply with relevant regulations, including the 
provision of required equipment and/or 
devices.    5.7 Service Information (SI ) 
5.7.1  Control of reception of and 
reception hours for rating 
programs:  only after entering the 
correct password  (shall be 
minimum 4 digits), users shall be 
able to access the video o n demand  
(VOD) service, set the reception of 
and reception hours for channel 
programs, and change password.  
5.7.2  Reception of rating programs  
5.7.2.1  Program rating shall be displayed 
in the information bar and 
electronic program guide.  
5.7.2.2  Programs with restricted content:  
(1) Password shall be required for 
receiving programs with 
restricted content. However, 
password may be omitted for 
switching to other programs 
with restricted content.  
(2) Before the password is entered, 
all program images and audio 
must be hidden . 
(3) When switching non -restricted 
programs to programs with 
restricted content, the password 
requirement as described in (1) 
shall be applied.  
(4) When images of programs with 
restricted content appear in the 
startup screen, the password  
requirement as described in (1) 
shall be applied.  
5.7.2.3  Parental lock programs refer to 
programs that require password 
for the reception, apart from 
those with restricted content:  
(1) Password shall be required for 
receiving parental lock 
programs. Howe ver, the 
password may be omitted for 
switching to other parental lock 
programs.  
(2) Before the password is entered, 
program images and audio must 
be hidden . 
(3) When switching non -parental 
lock programs to parental lock 
programs, the password 
requirement a s described in (1) 
shall be applied.  
(4) When switching back to parental 
lock programs from non -
parental lock programs, the  password requirement as 
described in (1) shall be applied. 
However, if the equipment 
allows user not to enter the 
password during a specific 
period, the user may not enter 
the password during the set 
period.  
(5) When switching parental lock 
programs to programs with 
restricted content, the password 
requirement as described in 
5.7.2.2 (1) shall be applied.  
(6) When images of parental lo ck 
programs appear in the startup 
screen, the password 
requirement as described in (1) 
shall be applied  
(7) When changing the parental lock 
setting, password requirements 
as described in (1) shall be 
applied.  
5.7.3  Control of reception hours:  
5.7.3.1  Only  after entering the correct 
password, users will be able to 
set the reception hours and 
change password.  
5.7.3.2  During non -reception hours, 
program images and audio 
must be hidden  prior to  the 
password  being  entered  
5.7.3.3  The password shall be entered 
when changing the reception 
hours  setting.  
5.7.4  Multiple language subtitles:  
The set -top box hardware after the 
online firmware update of this 
function shall provide traditional 
Chinese and English subtitles, and 
support the subtitle  selection 
function. Us ers may  activate or 
hide the subtitle display and select 
subtitles of different language s
through the user interface . The 
default for subtitle display shall be 
activated and  the default  language 
shall be traditional Chinese.  
5.7.5  Electronic Program Guide (EPG): 
shall receive EPG information 
transmitted by head -ends and 
accurately decode and display the 
information. See attached Table 1 
for relevant rules.  
5.7.6  Firmware Auto -Update: featuring 
the online firmware auto -update  (that is, the update of firmware  is 
conducted by the head -end system 
online) and firmware version 
checking functions.  
5.7.7  Display of Inserted Subtitle:  
5.7.7.1  Shall receive the content of 
inserted subtitles transmitted by 
head-ends, and the content shall 
be accurately decoded and 
displayed.  
5.7.7.2  The transmission location, 
display time and number of 
message characters shall comply 
with filial laws stipulated 
according to Paragraph 2 of 
Article 39 of Cable Radio and 
Television Act.  
5.7.8  Information of Natural Disaster 
and Emergency:  shall receive 
information of natural disaster and 
emergency that are transmitted by 
head -ends, and comply with the 
control signals transmitted by 
head -ends as follows:  
5.7.8.1  The same information shall be 
displayed in all program 
channels, and  shall  be enforced 
to switch to a designated 
program channel and broadcast  
relevant information;  
5.7.8.2  Natural  disaster and emergency 
information shall be displayed as 
inserted subtitles in all, partial or 
designated program channel(s).  
5.7.9  Multi -Track Output: s hall comply 
with ETSI EN 300 468, receive the 
content of at least two sets of 
tracks, and accurately decode and 
display the content.  
5.7.10  The click  and select function of 
electronic program guides  (shall be 
able to receive signals transmitted 
by head -ends): 
5.7.10.1  Shall be equipped with 
subscriber paid channel 
function ( the paid content shall  
be included).  
(1) Add / cancel a single channel.  
(2) Add / cancel a channel package 
(multiple channels).  
5.7.10.2  Shall be equipped with the 
customiz ed menu  function  
(such as customized channel 
number or order, my favorite 
channel s etc.), where the  subscribers can customize EPG 
by ordering the channels based 
on “channel number”, 
“program name” or “program 
type, or by adding “my favorite 
channel”.  
5.8 Audio Outpu t 
5.8.1  General audio format shall support 
stereo output (individual channel of 
L+R shall be able to output audio).  
5.8.2  Signal Level: ≧1 Vrms. The 
testing signal shall be 1 kHz sine 
wave under 0 dBFS MPEG and the 
load impedance shall be 100 kΩ.  
5.8.3  Total Harmonic Distortion with 
Noise (THD+N): ≦0.3%. The 
testing signal shall be 20 Hz to 20 
kHz sine wave under -3 dBFS 
MPEG and the load impedance 
shall be 100 kΩ.  
5.8.4  Frequency Response: within ±0.5 
dB. The testing signal shall be 20 
Hz to 20 kHz sine wa ve under 0 
dBFS MPEG and the load 
impedance shall be 100 kΩ.  
5.8.5  Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR): ≧70 
dB, including unweighted and A -
weighted modes. The testing signal 
shall be 1 kHz sine wave under 0 
dBFS MPEG and the load 
impedance shall be 100 kΩ.  
5.8.6  L.R Cross Talk): ≦-70 dB. The 
testing signal shall be 1 kHz sine 
wave under -20 dBFS MPEG and 
the load impedance shall be 100 
kΩ. 
5.8.7  L.R Phase Difference: ≦5 
degrees. The testing signal shall be 
20 Hz to 20 kHz sine wave under 0 
dBFS MPEG and the load 
impedance shall be 100 kΩ.  
5.8.8  L.R Power Level Difference: ≦
0.5 dB. The testing signal shall be 
20 Hz to 20 kHz sine wave under 0 
dBFS MPEG and the load 
impedance shall be 100 kΩ.  
5.8.9  Dynamic Range: ≧70 dB. The 
testing signal shall be 1 kHz 
sinusoidal audio signal under -60 
dBFS MPEG and the load 
impedance shall be 100 kΩ.  
5.8.10  Other rules: those whose testing 
signal is sine wave within the 
frequency band of from 20 Hz to  20 kHz shall test at least 31 
frequency points during this range. 
See attached T able 2 for frequency 
point related details.  
5.9 Video Output  
    5.9.1  Support video encoded in the 
standard NTSC format.  
    5.9.2  Feature the composite video and 
component video or HDMI output 
functions.  
    5.9.3  Composite Video (Composite 
Video Broadca st Signal; shortened 
as CVBS) Output:  
      5.9.3.1  Amplitude Characteristics:  
        (1) Bar Amplitude: within 100 IRE ± 5 
IRE. 
        (2) Sync Amplitude: within 40 IRE ± 2 
IRE. 
        (3) Bar Width: within 18 milliseconds 
(us) ± 0.5 milliseconds (us).  
      
      5.9.3.2  K-Factor  
        (1) Distortion of 2T Sine Wave (K -
2T): within ±1.5 %.  
        (2) Ratio of 2T Squared Sine Wave 
and Bar Amplitude (K -PB): within 
±3 %.  
      5.9.3.3    Frequency Response and Distortion 
(Multi burst): see attached Tabl e 3 
for relevant rules. The video output 
of multi burst images with 6 
different frequency packets.  
      5.9.3.4  Gain Distortion of Luminance Non -
Linearity: within ± 5 %.  
      5.9.3.5  Distortion of Chrominance Non -
Linearity  
        (1) Gain Distortion: wi thin ±3 %.  
        (2) Phase Distortion: within ±2 
degrees.  
        (3) Distortion of Chrominance to 
Luminance: within ±2 %.  
      5.9.3.6  Distortion of Chrominance to 
Luminance  
        (1) Gain Inequality: within 100±10 %.  
        (2) Delay Inequality: wi thin ±30 
nanoseconds (ns)  
      5.9.3.7  Chrominance AM / PM Noise  
        (1) Amplitude Modulation Noise (AM 
Noise): ≦-45 dB rms.  
        (2) Phase Modulation Noise (PM 
Noise): ≦-45 dB rms.  
      5.9.3.8  Distortion of Differential Gain & 
Differential Phase  
        (1) Distortion of Differential Gain 
(Diff. Gain): within ±5 %.           (2) Distortion of Differential Phase 
(Diff. Phase): within ±5 degrees.  
      5.9.3.9  Noise Spectrum Level  
        (1) Noise level for frequency range 
between 0.1 MHz to 4.2 MHz: ≦-
52 dB rms.  
        (2) Noise level for unified weighting: 
≦-58 dB rms.  
      5.9.3.10  Characteristics of Color Ba r 
Signals: See attached Table 4 for 
relevant rules.  
    5.9.4  Component Video Output:  
      5.9.4.1  Shall support the quality and 
performance requirements for 
resolutions of at least 720p and 
1080i.  
      5.9.4.2  Characteristics of Channel Delay  
        (1) Channel Delay of“Y”to“Pb”: 
within ±40 nanoseconds (ns).  
        (2) Channel Delay of“Y”to“Pr”: 
within ±40 nanoseconds (ns).  
        (3) Channel Delay of“Pb”to“Pr”: 
within ±40 nanoseconds (ns).  
      5.9.4.3  Characteristics of Color Bar 
Amplitude: see at tached Table 5 for 
relevant rules.  
      5.9.4.4   Characteristics of Noise Spectrum: 
see attached Table 6 for relevant 
rules.  
    5.9.5  HDMI Output:  
      5.9.5.1  Shall support the quality and 
performance requirements for 
resolutions of at least 720p and 
1080i.  
      5.9.5.2  The transmission interface shall 
comply with HDMI 1.1 above 
version.  
5.10 Reception  interface  
    5.10.1  The physical connector of Internet 
Protocol T elevision  (IPTV)  is the 
RJ45  interface and shall support 
RTCP or RTSP communications  
protocol . Where RTCP or RTSP 
takes place, the connector shall be 
limited in receiving head -ends 
data.  
    5.10.2  Transmission circuit durability: the 
set-top box shall be properly 
connected and broadcast signals 
when complying with the 
following transmiss ion circuit 
standard  circumstance s: 
      5.10.2.1  Numbers  of lost IP packet: the 
set-top box shall be able to 
function normally when missing  the IP packet for more than four 
times in an hour or once within 
five minutes.  
      5.10.2.2  Set-top box shall  be able to  
function normally when 
receiving  packet jitter more than 
50 ms .  
    5.10.3  Receiving and processing 
capability  
      5.10.3.1  Those that are equipped with 
single program stream (SPTS) 
shall be able to process transport 
stream  more than 20 Mbp s.  
      5.10.3.2  Those that are equipped with 
multi program transport stream 
(MPTS) shall be able to process
transport stream  more than  60 
Mbps .  
      5.10.3.3  The test as described in 5.10.3 
shall be proceeded with at least 
one or multiple HD programs.   
5.10.4 Receiving Decoding Capability  
      5.10.4.1  Those whose standard high -
quality program is transmitted 
with the MPEG -2 compression 
technology, the flow shall be > 
3Mbps; those who ha ve adopted 
the MPEG -4 A VC  (H.264) or 
VC-1 compression technology 
for the transmission, the flow 
shall be >1.75 Mbps 。 
      5.10.4.2  Those whose high -quality 
program format is transmitted 
with the MPEG -2 compression 
technology, the flow shall be 
>17 Mbps; those who have 
adopted the MPEG -4 A VC  
(H.264) or VC -1 compression 
technology for the transmission, 
the flow shall b e >10 Mbps.  
5.10.5 Electromagnetic Susceptibility 
(EMS):  
      5.10.5.1  Shall comply with CNS 14676 -4 
(the power line shall comply 
with the level of 1KV; signal 
line shall comply with the level 
of 500V).  
      5.10.5.2  Shall comply with CNS 14676 -5 
(the po wer, neutral and ground 
lines shall comply with the level 
of 2KV; the level of 1KV shall 
be complied with between lines).  
5.11 Those  that include the feature  of USB 
extended interface shall provide at least 
one set of minimum USB 2.0 interface.  The socket type shall adopt TYPE A or 
TYPE C interface.  
5.12 For those with the recording function, 
the broadcast shall be limited to the set -
top box and smart card or other 
encryption mechanism used during the 
recording.  
5.13 For those whose reception information is  
uploaded to head -ends, the content of 
the said information must not contain 
information that can directly identify the 
specific person.  
5.14 For those that include the feature s of 
WiFi, bluetooth or other radio -frequency 
interface, their radio -frequency 
performance shall comply with Low -
power Radio -frequency Devices 
Technical Specifications.  
5.15 Working Environment:  
 Shall maintain a normal operation under 
a temperature range of 5°C to 40°C, and 
relative humidity range of 45% to 80%  
(R.H.).   
5.16 Testin g fixture and location required for 
item 5.7.4, 5.7.6 to 5.7.8, 5. 7.10, 5.12 
and 5.1 3 shall be provided by the 
applicant.