Home > Media and Analysts > News Release Archive > 2005 > Feb > News Release 09|02|05

09|02|05

Digital Terrestrial Television spectrum management update

Ofcom has today published a spectrum management update on the technical planning for digital switchover across the UK.

Ofcom has conducted an engineering analysis to determine how technical constraints will affect the prospective region-by-region order for switchover. The work was undertaken by Ofcom, with support from ntl Broadcast, Crown Castle and the BBC. It takes forward the switchover plan originally developed by the Spectrum Planning Group as part of the Digital Television Action Plan.

The order in which different UK regions can make the switch to digital will primarily be determined by technical and engineering constraints. An indicative region-by-region timetable resulting from these technical constraints is shown in the spectrum management update. It shows switchover could be completed by the end of 2012.

The spectrum management update has been submitted for further consideration to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Trade and Industry. The Government will confirm the timetable for switchover once all of the remaining issues are resolved and the interests of consumers, especially the most vulnerable, are well protected.

SwitchCo is to be the primary body charged with responsibility for ensuring the successful achievement of digital switchover in the UK. SwitchCo is currently operating as a working group and will take forward this sequencing analysis once it becomes fully operational later this year.

The spectrum management update is available via Related Items to the right of this page.

Separately, Ofcom has also today published a consultation document on the planning options for digital switchover.

The commercial public service broadcasters, Channel 3, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Public Teletext, are required to end the transmission of their services in analogue form and complete the process of digital switchover by 31 December 2012 , although this date could be changed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Digital switchover will require the conversion of all current existing analogue transmission sites in the UK to digital.

The consultation document, Planning Options for Digital Switchover, closes on 21 March 2005 and is available via Related Items to the right of this page.

Ends.

Back to top