RADIO SPECTRUM
Radio spectrum is the range of airwaves – electromagnetic radio frequencies – used to
transmit data wirelessly. It represents essential infrastructure for TV and radio
broadcasting. Upcoming policy decisions on spectrum will have a fundamental impact
on how we access TV, radio and online content: they must reflect the reality of how
content is consumed.
Airwaves are a
crucial resource
Radio frequencies are allocated for different types of wireless transmissions such
as radio, TV, mobile telecommunications, Wi-Fi, communication satellites,
wireless microphones, aeronautical and maritime communications, and various
specific usages. The various services are allocated in bands (UHF, VHF, SHF,
etc.) to prevent interference and make the most efficient use of spectrum
possible.
Digital
Terrestrial
Television (DTT)
Spectrum is an indispensable resource for broadcasters to make their
programmes available on TV or on radio receivers. Public Service Media (PSM)
make their content as widely available as possible on all devices and platforms
(Internet, cable, satellite, and broadcast). Amongst the ways of receiving TV at
home, digital terrestrial television (DTT) is irreplaceable. It is the most efficient
means of distributing TV programme to a mass audience, offering affordable,
convenient and universal access to TV. It is the most widespread platform for TV
reception in the EU, reaching over 100 Million households – 250 million viewers
in the EU.
DTT is a vital platform to fulfil PSM objectives and support the dissemination of
European audiovisual works, providing near universal coverage, guaranteed
quality of service and free-to air content to citizens across the EU. These benefits
are generally available only on DTT and it would be difficult to replicate them on
other TV distribution platforms.
The UHF band
is indispensable
for DTT
The UHF band (470 MHz to 862 MHz) is the only spectrum available for the
evolution of DTT because it has unique physical characteristics that facilitate
wide coverage as well as penetration in buildings. With hybrid TV services rapidly
developing, image definition technologies (3DTV, UHDTV, 4K) constantly
improving, and EBU forecasts indicating that linear TV viewing will still account
for 225 minutes per day in 2020, demand for DTT is not expected to decline in
the foreseeable future.
Digital
broadcasting
and efficient use
of spectrum
PSM have been early drivers and promoters of digital technologies, standards
and innovation. The transition to digital television led to significant gains in
spectrum efficiency, opportunities for multi-channel delivery and increased wealth
and diversity of content offers. The gains in efficiency resulting from the transition
to digital TV led to the release of the 800 MHz band, which was equivalent to
18% of UHF spectrum available to TV broadcasting prior to 2007. The release of
this spectrum, known as the ‘digital dividend’, was mainly used to meet growing
mobile data demands.
Although the need for further UHF for mobile data has not been proven, mobile
data providers are pursuing the release of the remaining UHF band including the
700 MHz band (694-790 MHz). The latter alone represents 30% of the remaining
UHF spectrum available to terrestrial TV broadcasting.
November 2015
Spectrum for
DTT: choice,
performance
and innovation
If mobile data service providers are given access to more UHF frequencies used
for TV broadcasting, the DTT platform risks suffering from interferences and loss
of coverage and capacity. Viewers are likely to have less TV channels to choose
from, and meeting future demands linked to the introduction of the latest high
resolution TV viewing standards (such as 4K and 3DTV) will be hindered.
In addition, the costs of transition away from DTT are substantial. Broadcasters
would need full financial compensation were any such transition to occur.
Mobile Internet
growth
estimates use
flawed
assumptions
Mobile data providers already have a large amount of spectrum (around1000
MHz in total), without counting additional UHF spectrum at their disposal which is
not fully used. In addition, they still operate 2G and 3G networks that are not
efficient in terms of spectrum use.
Wi-Fi for mobile
data: a missing
piece of the
puzzle
Mobile data providers’ forecasts also fail to address consumer preferences and
available alternatives such as Wi-Fi. Indeed, Wi-Fi offers higher capacity and
cheaper data reception, in particular for data-intensive services such as
audiovisual programme streaming or downloading. A recent European
Commission-funded study found that 71% of all wireless data traffic delivered in
2012 to smartphones and tablets in the EU was delivered using Wi-Fi, possibly
rising to 78% by 2016.
Their demands for more UHF spectrum are based on forecasts assuming that
the capacity required for 3G or 4G networks will increase dramatically in the
coming years. However, these forecasts are highly unreliable, and have recently
been revised downwards. Furthermore, some forecasts are based on
exaggerated assumptions on the future demand for mobile data capacity. This
has led to largely overestimated long-term mobile data traffic forecasts.
Radio spectrum policy needs to reflect the fact that TV remains a hugely popular
medium and that future mobile data traffic growth can be addressed without
compromising the future of DTT. The use of spectrum already assigned to mobile
broadband should also be maximised by using the most efficient technologies.
Any future decision to allocate spectrum must be based on a solid cost/benefits
analysis and in-depth impact assessment, assessing the costs involved for
incumbent users and the impact on the day-to-day activities of the general public.
EU State of play
Though radio spectrum allocation is essentially a competence of the EU Member States and Europe’s
position at international level is coordinated by the European Conference of Postal and
Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT), the EU may establish multiannual radio spectrum
policy programmes to set out the policy orientations and objectives for strategic planning and
harmonisation under the Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (RSPP).
The European Commission is currently developing a strategy for the future use of the UHF
broadcasting band (470-790 MHz). The EBU believes that the report by Pascal Lamy on the UHF
frequencies delivered in September 2014 provides a well-adapted and balanced roadmap for this
exercise.
The Lamy report conclusions recommended that the 700 MHz band should be released at the earliest
in 2022, and the 500 and 600 MHz bands not before 2030 at the least, subject to an evaluation in
2025. He also stressed that any future decision on spectrum allocation must be based on a robust
cost/benefit analysis and in-depth impact assessment on incumbent users and citizens.
EUROPEAN BROADCASTING UNION
BRUSSELS OFFICE
56 Avenue des Arts
1000 Brussels
Tel. +32 2 286 9115
[email protected]
www.ebu.ch
@EBU_HQ
November 2015