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11|06|08

Digital dividend –new opportunities for local services

Ofcom today published detailed proposals for the release of spectrum in the ‘white spaces’ that will exist between digital television transmitters after digital switchover.

This is the second consultation about the release of valuable spectrum freed up by the switch to digital television, known as the digital dividend. Last week Ofcom published proposals for the means of awarding ‘cleared’ spectrum that will be fully freed up after switchover.

This consultation deals with geographical ‘white spaces’ that will exist between digital transmitters, and which can be used for new low power services. This is an important resource which could be used for a range of new applications, including:

• new digital television services covering most of the UK, a UK region or nation;
• television services covering a city or a local area;
• services in support of programme making and special events; and
• possibly mobile television and mobile broadband.

Ofcom’s overall aim for the digital dividend is to maximise the benefits that use of this spectrum is likely to bring to the UK’s citizens and consumers, whilst promoting more competition and innovation.

The consultation proposes releasing the white spaces in a phased process between 2008 and 2011.

Users should be able to decide what technology to use and what services to offer. Licences should be tradable and flexible, to allow use of the airwaves to change as new technologies and services emerge.

The first step, later this year or early next, will include the award of white space at sites in the first regions to switch to digital television, where local TV services are already licensed. This will create opportunities for digital services covering Carlisle, Cardiff and Manchester.

Later phases would include:

• offering white space spectrum in many different parts of the UK at the same time, through a ‘combined’ award; this would allow bidders to put together blocks of spectrum so that they could offer new digital TV services across most of the UK, or a large part of the UK; Bidders could also acquire the spectrum to offer this service in a city or a network of cities. This award could take place in late 2009; 
• offering white space spectrum that might be suitable for local TV services in a wide variety of locations, depending on demand; these awards could take place roughly one year ahead of switchover in each region, with the last award in 2011.

Today’s consultation closes on 21 August 2008; see Related Items for the full documents.

The third digital dividend consultation, covering spectrum particularly for use by Programme Makers and Special Events (used at theatres and outdoor events), will be published later in the summer.

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 second of several documents outlining how Ofcom proposes to deal with different parts of the digital dividend. The consultation on the spectrum that will be cleared as a result of digital switchover was published on 6 June 2008 and can be found at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/clearedaward/ .

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