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06|06|08

Delivering the digital dividend - bringing innovation to the airwaves

Ofcom today set out detailed proposals for how it will release the valuable spectrum that will be freed up as a result of the switchover to digital television. The aim is to enable innovative services that will deliver significant benefits to UK citizens and consumers.

The spectrum, known as the digital dividend, in the UHF band, is currently used for the delivery of TV channels using analogue technology. Signals transmitted in these bands can travel over large distances and carry a large amount of information.

These characteristics make the spectrum very suitable for delivering a wide range of new services, including:

• ultra-fast mobile broadband;
• mobile television; and
• more digital television services, in standard or high definition.

Ofcom’s consultation document proposes to release the spectrum in a way that will promote competition and innovation and allow the widest range of technologies and services to access the spectrum.

The licences would be tradable and flexible to allow users to determine the technology and services they provide and to change the use of the airwaves as new technologies and services emerge.

Ofcom plans to make 128 MHz of cleared spectrum available on a UK-wide basis, holding an auction in 2009. The spectrum will be freed up for new uses in phases, as digital switchover proceeds between now and 2012.

Ofcom will encourage a number of different and innovative uses and promote competition in the use of the spectrum. Proposals include limiting the amount of spectrum that any one organisation can acquire, and measures to prevent new services from causing interference to existing digital terrestrial television services.

Today’s consultation closes on 15 August 2008. The document can be found here:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/clearedaward/.

Further proposals will be published soon for the award of ‘white space’ spectrum, for use by Programme Makers and Special Events, (PMSE) used at theatres and outdoor events and other services such as local TV.

Ends.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. In December 2007, Ofcom published its general statement on the Digital Dividend, which set out a market-led approach to the release of the spectrum. The statement can be found at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/ddr/statement/

2. This is the first of several documents outlining how Ofcom proposes to deal with different parts of the digital dividend. One document will deal with the award of geographic interleaved spectrum. This is the ‘white space’ that exists geographically between television transmitters, and that can be used for low-power uses, such as local TV. A further document will address set out how interleaved spectrum will be awarded to meet the needs of PMSE.

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