Analogue transmission of television is in the process of being switched off and replaced by digital terrestrial television (DTT). This is known as digital switchover (DSO) and has been completed in several TV regions including Wales, West Country, Grampian Border and others.
DSO has three major consequences:
- there is an expansion in the number and range of services available via terrestrial television across the UK;
- a large amount of spectrum the digital dividend will become available for new uses; and
- the pattern of interleaved spectrum shared with DTT by PMSE between 470 and 854 MHz (also called whitespace) is changing.
Programme making and special events (PMSE) comprises a wide variety of organisations and individuals who use spectrum for an equally wide variety of uses. This ranges from audio users, such as professional theatre companies and community users (often, churches and schools), to video users such as broadcasters and special events organisers.
PMSE use of interleaved spectrum primarily consists of wireless microphones and in-ear monitors, although there is some use of talkback and other audio links.
One of the consequences of DSO is a replanning of the frequencies used by television in the UK. As a result, there is a change in the configuration of interleaved spectrum which will, inevitably, lead to a change in the frequencies that can be used by PMSE users. These users may find that they need to change or modify their existing equipment. To assist the PMSE industry plan ahead we published a statement in January 2008 which set out the likely available frequencies for the sector after switchover has taken place in each region. At that time we indicated that, because of some uncertainties relating to DSO, the picture given would be both conservative in nature (that is, likely to underestimate the amount of spectrum which would be available for PMSE) and subject to change.
This statement gives an updated picture of the likely available interleaved spectrum for PMSE in the light of developments since January 2008. In particular we have altered some key technical assumptions to reflect how wireless microphones are actually licensed in areas which have already switched-over.
We have concluded that there is sufficient spectrum for PMSE to meet its reasonable requirements
Our January 2008 statement was somewhat conservative in its assumptions. It suggested that a number of locations in the UK could have a quantity of available interleaved spectrum which was lower than peak historic demand. However, our revised assessment is more realistic and indicates that, in all indoor PMSE locations, there will be significantly more spectrum available than historic peak demand suggests is needed. In those few outdoor locations where we there may be nominal constraints on spectrum supply, we suggest measures which can be taken to identify additional spectrum. These measures are consistent with current practice where spectrum demand can also exceed published spectrum availability .
We consider that the revised assessment as set out in this statement provides sufficient comfort for wireless microphone users, such that they should be able to invest for the future with confidence that their spectrum needs can be met.
Users can check which freqencies are available in which locations
Separate to this statement, we have published details of which frequencies are available in which locations after switchover has taken place. These can be found by using a look-up tool on the JFMG website at www.jfmg.co.uk. JFMG licenses spectrum to the PMSE sector on our behalf and can also give further advice on suitable frequencies on 020 7299 8660.
This resource is of particular importance to users who need to prepare for the changing configuration of interleaved spectrum by purchasing new equipment.