European Commission Renews Call for Accelerated DTV Transition

BRUSSELS: The European Commission is urging member states to accelerate plans for switching off analogue signals ahead of the 2012 deadline, arguing that with the freed-up spectrum, the launch of new services, from wireless Internet to HD channels, could give the region’s economy a boost of between 20 billion euros and 50 billion euros.

The Commission has devised plans for the coordinated distribution of spectrum in order to boost investment and competition in the provision of wireless broadband, mobile telephony and interactive and HD services. Properly allocated, the Commission says, the spectrum would deliver a "digital dividend" to the EU. 

"The digital dividend is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make ‘broadband for all’ a reality all over Europe and boost some of the most innovative sectors of our economy," said Viviane Reding, the EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media. "Europe will only make the most of the digital dividend if we work together on a common plan. The Commission cooperated closely with EU countries, the European Parliament, industry and consumers’ representatives to prepare such a plan. I call on EU countries to speed up the move to digital TV and to make it happen by 1 January 2012. I also urge national authorities to use the digital dividend in a pro-competitive way to open up the market for new operators and new services, maximizing the impact on the economy. Only this will ensure the digital dividend is used to bring wireless broadband to parts of the EU where high-speed internet cannot be provided efficiently by other technologies."

In addition to urging member states to speed up the DTV transition (which is already complete in Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden), the Commission proposes that one part of the freed-up spectrum (the 790-862 MHz sub-band) be set aside for new wireless services like 3G and 4G mobile phone services. The Commission also said it would harmonize the technical conditions for using the 790-862 MHz sub-band. In the first half of 2010, the Commission will seek the European Parliament’s and Council’s support on its spectrum roadmap.