This week saw more than 100 cultural and media organizations call on decision makers, governments and regulators to protect frequencies currently used for terrestrial TV as well as Programme Making and Special Events (PMSE).
At this year’s World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23), starting November, there is a possibility that delegates may allow the transfer of the current TV frequency band to mobile broadband services. According to Broadcast Networks Europe, this so-called “co-primary” allocation will result in a de-facto exclusion of the media and the cultural sector from the airwaves.
Among the organisations that have joined the Europe-wide call is Ireland’s 2rn, the RTÉ subsidary which operates the Irish terrestrial service Saorview.
UK broadcasters didn’t join in, with the action focused on EU countries, plus Switzerland. However, unlike their European counterparts, none of the main UK broadcasters has openly come forward to campaign for the retention of terrestrial TV services. Here, broadcast infrastructure company Arqiva has been lobbying decision-makers, alongside various charities. BEIRG, the British Entertainment Industry Radio Group, is lobbying to secure ongoing access to the current TV frequencies for PMSE use.
▶ What’s the argument in favour to save terrestrial TV frequencies?
Supporters of the retention of terrestrial TV frequencies say:
- Terrestrial television (DTT) in the UHF spectrum is simple, inclusive and cheap: plugging in a TV set offers instant access to a plethora of public and private programmes.
- DTT in the UHF spectrum is reliable in all situations: even in natural or man-made catastrophes, broadcasting distribution is very robust.
- DTT in the UHF spectrum is a sustainable distribution method – and the most sustainable when it comes to distributing the same content to all.
- DTT is innovative: it requires constant innovation and development of new digital technologies like e.g., 5G Broadcast.
Additionally, those involved in media and film production, cultural performances and other live events (PMSE use) argue:
- The frequencies are needed for wireless means of production.
- They are important for: theatre, musicals, live events, festivals, conferences, radio and television reporting and media production.
- Technical equipment is used for a long period of time and often passed on from professional to non-professional organizations and in this way applying the concept of circular economy.
Regarding mobile network use of the frequencies, the broadcast, media and film production industries say:
- The mobile service sector already benefits from substantial UHF spectrum resources, i.e., the 700 MHz and 800 MHz bands. These are former TV frequencies that have been re-used across Europe in the past decade for new 4G and 5G services.
- These allocations of spectrum were justified by the need to develop rural broadband (improve coverage in rural areas). They argue the current rural deficiencies can only be resolved by further developing infrastructure – and this can be done with spectrum already allocated to mobile broadband. Mobile network operators dispute this.
▶ What do those in support of mobile usage of the spectrum say?
- Vodafone has previously said it supports ‘co-primary’ use of the frequency band, which would allow individual countries to make decisions on how to use the frequencies. Broadcasters dispute this, pointing out that signals don’t stop at the border.
- Virgin Media O2 supports the closure of digital terrestrial TV.
- Three supports the re-farming of current TV frequencies to support improved mobile reception in rural areas.
Meanwhile, mobile industry organisation The GSM Association says the use of TV frequencies for mobile services will reduce the number of masts required in mobile areas. In an ‘Insights’ document published ahead of WRC-23, it noted:
“Additional low-band spectrum will help connect rural areas to better quality services by reducing the number of cell sites needed to reach the same level of performance. Today, operators typically aim to deliver at least 5 Mbit/s to 10 Mbit/s at the cell edge in rural areas, but this is expected to increase to 10 to 20 Mbps for 5G. Even with existing spectrum assets in other low bands, an additional 600 MHz spectrum will reduce the sites needed to provide 20 Mbps consistent coverage.”
Marc Thornham