archives 2010
:: December 2010
Protecting the DTT platform from interferenceLast week, DigiTAG issued its recommendations aimed at ensuring that necessary technical safeguards are adopted to protect the television services on the DTT platform from interference. These recommendations were jointly agreed with the Association of Commercial Television in Europe (ACT), Broadcast Networks Europe (BNE), and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Together these organisations represent the full broadcast industry from across Europe, from commercial and public service broadcasters to broadcast network operators and manufacturers of professional and consumer broadcast equipment.
:: November 2010
DVB-T2 launch in SwedenOn 1 November, Sweden officially launched services on the terrestrial platform using the DVB-T2 standard. Services are now available to 70% of the population, and by the end of 2012, the network coverage will reach 98% of the population.
:: April 2010
HD services in FranceViewers in France are able to watch HD services across all television delivery platforms – cable, terrestrial, satellite and IPTV. The satellite operator TPS (now merged with CanalSat) launched the first services in January 2006 and was soon followed by the cable and IPTV platforms. Currently, viewers can access up to 15 pay HD services on the cable platform, 12 pay HD services on the satellite platform and 10 pay HD services on the IPTV platform.
:: March 2010
Completing digital switchover in SpainOn 30 March, over 16.5 million viewers will complete analogue switch-off in Spain. On this date, the analogue services from the transmission towers covering the cities of Barcelona (Collserola), Madrid (Torrespaña), and Seville (Valencina de la Concepción) will be switched off. On 2 April, when the analogue services at a further 6 transmission sites are switched off, Spain will have completed digital switchover.
:: March 2010
Introducing mobile services in Band V in EuropeAs digital switchover progresses in many European countries, national administrations are considering how to allocate frequency usage in Bands III, IV, and V. While the Geneva 2006 (GE-06) Agreement established an all-digital frequency plan for broadcast services (DVB-T, T-DAB) to use these bands, some national administrations would like to allocate the upper part of Band V, specifically from 790-862 MHz, to telecom operators.
:: January 2010
Allocating broadcast spectrum to wireless operators: the debate in the United StatesAt the end of last year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opened a consultation on the National Broadband Plan (Public Notice #26). The consultation sought opinions on the use of spectrum by broadcasters and the possibility of re-allocating broadcast spectrum for wireless broadband use.