Archives 2008
:: December 2008
Approval for white space in the USA
On 4 November, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously voted to allow for the introduction of unlicensed devices in the unused portions of the frequencies reserved for television broadcast services. These so-called white spaces are the vacant frequency channels used to separate broadcast services and protect against interference between the services. Based on the FCC decision, it will be possible for manufacturers to offer transmitting devices that can make use of these frequency spectrum white spaces without requiring a formal license.
:: November 2008
The French government has presented its plan for establishing France as a world leading digital economy by 2012. Entitled France Numérique 2012, the plan provides 150 action points that are divided into four priorities (1) embracing all aspects of the digital economy including broadcasting, IT, telecommunications, and the Internet. Issues such as digital rights management, the digital divide, analogue switch-off, mobile broadband services, 3G services, electronic identification, and cyber-criminality are addressed in the plan.
:: October 2008
Preparing for analogue switch-off in the USA
Analogue switch-off is set to take place on 17 February 2009 across the United States. On that single day, a total of 1,756 full-power broadcast stations will stop their analogue transmissions and provide only digital services. Already, as of April 2008, 91% of broadcasters were transmitting a digital signal, although only 68% of these broadcasters were using the frequency channel reserved for them after the completion of analogue switch-off and at the full power level.
:: September 2008
The National Communications Authority of Hungary (NHH) has officially allocated the license to operate DTT services to the broadcast network operator Antenna Hungaria. This paves the way for the launch of DTT services, expected to take place by the end of the year.
:: August 2008
DTT services in Albania & Macedonia
The planning and implementation of DTT services is underway in both Albania and Macedonia. In Albania, a successful pay-DTT platform has already been launched while in Macedonia, the government has put together plans to invite operators to tender for up to four DTT multiplexes.
:: July 2008
Allocation of the digital dividend in Sweden
Allocation of the digital dividend has been completed in Sweden. A minimum of 6 multiplexes in the UHF frequency bands and 1 multiplex in the VHF band will be available for broadcast services while the UHF Band V spectrum located above 790 MHz is planned to be auctioned and allocated for other services.
:: June 2008
Terrestrial television networks are in continual evolution. From the transition to colour, to the launch of new digital services including HD and mobile television, the terrestrial platform has adapted to new television environments. Digital switchover provides the opportunity to launch new digital services, making use of the frequencies in the spectrum Bands III, IV and V released following analogue switch-off.
:: May 2008
Status of digital switchover in the United Kingdom
DigiTAG has published an updated version to its Analogue Switch-off Handbook. The updated version provides an overview of the key elements for a successful analogue switch-off process based on the experiences made by countries that have begun or completed the process.
:: April 2008
The ‘E-Book’ is the colloquial name
given to the IEC standard 62216 for Digital Terrestrial receivers for
the DVB-T system. This standard defines the basic requirements for
every DTT receiver in Europe today.
Work on the E-Book began in 1999 when the consumer electronics group
EACEM (now EICTA) developed the document starting from the DTT specification
used in the United Kingdom, the D-Book, and early DTT developments
in Sweden.
:: March 2008
The DTT process has been re-launched in Portugal. The communications regulator ANACOM and the Government have respectively invited candidates to tender for a FTA and a Pay TV DTT operation license by 23 April. The process is expected to be concluded during the summer, which will allow for the launch of DTT services by the beginning of 2009. Viewers will be able to access new services, including more standard-definition services, HDTV and interactive services.
:: February 2008
Update on DTT in the Czech Republic
The digital terrestrial television platform (DTT) received a boost in the Czech Republic following the new amendments added to the existing media legislative framework. The president, Vaclav Klaus, signed several amendments that will allow for the launch of new television programme services on the DTT platform.
:: January 2008
Plans are underway to provide viewers in Denmark with new television services on the terrestrial platform. The broadcast regulator, the Danish Radio and Television Board, has formally invited candidates to tender for the operation of four available DTT multiplexes that will be available following analogue switch-off. Candidates have until 4 February to submit their application with the final decision on the license allocation expected on 28 March 2008.