P32 JANUARY 2016
Broadcast
No prizes for guessing who these two gentlemen are...
World
WRC-15 confirms 700MHz reallocation The loss of 700MHz was expected, though broadcasters are taking some consolation that 470–694MHz has been confirmed for DTT for the time being. Nevertheless, as Kevin Hilton reports, the future for PMSE is less clear
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his year’s World Radio Conference (WRC15) wound up at the end of November in Geneva after nearly a month of what were described as “long, long discussions” of frequency spectrum allocation and what it should be used for. For broadcasters and wireless microphone users the outcome was inevitable, with confirmation that the 700MHz band is being given over to mobile network operators. While digital terrestrial television (DTT) is secure for now in the 470–694MHz range, the PMSE (programme-making and special events) sector, including radio mics, is facing the possibility of more changes. The key decision relating to telecoms, with ramifications for broadcasting, was to “provide enhanced capacity for mobile broadband in the 694–790MHz frequency band”. This affects ITU Region-1, covering Europe, Africa, the Middle East and central Asia, with provision for a “harmonised solution” to implement the digital dividend internationally. This opens the way for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT, also known as LTE or long-term evolution), bringing mobile broadband services as well as other services for smartphones and tablets. Commenting on the confirmation of this transition, ITU secretary-general Houlin Zhao said: “The WRC-15 decision represents a landmark in the development of broadband mobile on a worldwide scale, regardless of location, network or terminal used. It goes a long way in enabling bridging of the digital divide, while fully protecting the other services
currently operated in the band.” François Rancy, director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau, added: “The global harmonisation of the 694–790MHz frequency band that has been decided by WRC-15 paves the way for manufacturers and mobile operators to offer mobile broadband at an affordable price in currently underserved areas.” Under the agreement WRC-15 is providing what it calls “full protection” for television broadcasting in the affected frequency band, along with aeronautical radio navigation systems. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) welcomed the WRC’s decision in relation to the lower UHF band covering 470–694MHz, which is used for DTT and radio microphones, intercom and in-ear monitoring (IEM) and was deemed too important to give over to mobile use. As it stands there will be no change for allocating 470–964MHz, either now or at the next WRC in 2019. Under current proposals there will be a review of all UHF spectrum from 470–960MHz at the 2023 conference, where decisions would be taken whether or not to further alter the Radio Regulations. “The worldwide community of broadcasters welcomes this important WRC-15 decision,” comments Simon Fell, the EBU’s director of technology and innovation. “So should the millions of viewers who rely on DTT to watch TV. Now that we have certainty on access to spectrum, the broadcasting industry can complete the transition to fully digital television broadcasting. We can also
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continue to innovate and ensure that everyone has access to the benefits that new digital services bring.” Christoph Dosch of the IRT, who is also chairman of ITU-R Study Group 6 (covering broadcasting services) and represents German public broadcasters at the NEM (Networked and Electronic Media) initiative, observs that the 700MHz band had been already lost to broadcasting and PMSE after the proposal at WRC-12. “It’s already been activated in Germany, so the decision at WRC-15 was just housekeeping,” he says. Dosch added that with Italy and Spain still using 700MHz for TV, the issue now was on how to make the situation work between broadcasting and mobile on a cross-country basis. As for PMSE, Dosch says it was both good news and bad news: “Good because the band remains with its white spaces, and they continue to work. But it is bad because all services using 700MHz, including PMSE, will probably have to move out because mobile operators don’t tolerate that in the white spaces. They want virgin spectrum.” He also pointed out that PMSE was not an agenda item for WRC-19 but could be included for WRC-23. WRC-15 also reallocated the L-band in Europe away from broadcasting. In the UK, spectrum regulator Ofcom had already made clear its intentions to offer 700MHz for mobile use. Earlier this year it issued a consultation on managing the clearance of the band, which it intends to complete by 2022. www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/conferences/wrc