Digital Dividend: Insights for spectrum decisions - ITU

Digital Dividend: Insights for spectrum decisionsexist, the level of percentage of TV receivers interfered with by mobile base stations are low, urban andsuburban areas are the most sensitive. Special measures case by case can solve the difficulties.Works provided in ITU-R SG 6 and ITU-R JTG 5-6 about studies on the use of the band 790-862 MHz bymobile applications and by primary services are supported in order to improve the frequency planning.5 Supporting measuresWhat measures (technical, regulatory, and financial) have been taken to ensure that the impact of thedigital dividend decision on the broadcasting service/other allocated services is accepted by thepopulation/stakeholders?In order to facilitate the transition from analogue to digital and assist in the analogue switch off, financialhelp has been set up through different funds managed by France Télé Numérique 61 , a Public-PrivatePartnership (PPP) between the State and the national analogue TV program providers. Its task is tomanage communication campaigns in relation to analogue switch-off operations and manage the abovefunds 62 . Its duty ends with the deadline of the analogue switch-off.The first fund provides full financial assistance to limited income households for the purchase of a digitaladapter and modification of the antenna system if needed. The second fund is intended to providetechnical assistance. The third fund is intended to cover the cost of implementation of alternativereception where digital terrestrial TV is not available as a replacement to analogue terrestrial TV. Thisfund is used irrespective of household income.France Télé-Numérique has conducted a national advertising campaign to inform the viewers. Thiscampaign has been successful. Transition to digital and analogue switch-off have been welcome by thepopulation as shown by the Observatory for the Digital TV 63 , managed by the Broadcasting Authority(CSA). From the end of the DSO, the population could receive 33 SD programmes and 5 HD nationalprogrammes, 19 national free on air TV, 9 national pay TV and local programmes broadcast through6 multiplexes.6 Licensing process and conditionsWhat are the conditions and the process of licensing for the use of the digital dividend? In particular inrespect of:– coverage of the territory (reduction of the digital divide);– protection of broadcasting in adjacent frequencies.For the broadcasting service, the use of digital dividend was organised by the legislative framework anddetailed in a regulatory framework. After the analogue switch-off on 30 November 2011, a first digitaldividend used by six multiplexes came on air and the digital dividend was made available for mobileservices At this date, incumbents as analogue broadcasting stations stopped their analogue transmissionsor as with defence stations have been relocated in another part of spectrum with the mechanism of therelocation funds 64 .61626364www.tousaunumerique.fr/www.tousaunumerique.fr/aides/les-aides-financieres/a-propos/www.csa.fr/infos/observatoire/observatoire.phpwww.anfr.fr/fr/planification-international/frs-et-fan/800-mhz-et-2600-mhz.html55