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U.K. regulator wrangles with complexities of reallocating digital TV, PMSE services to new frequencies.
Ofcom on Friday launched a consultation with the aim of clearing the 700 MHz band for mobile services by the second quarter of 2020, earlier than originally envisioned.
Indeed, in May 2014, when the U.K. telco watchdog first proposed reallocating the spectrum, it said it hoped to complete the process by 2022 or sooner.
Incidentally, the U.K. government has also pledged to spend £550 million (€708 million) over the next five years to free up the frequencies.
In Friday’s consultation, "we set out proposals which would enable us to bring forward the point at which this spectrum is nationally available for mobile data," Ofcom said, in a statement.
The 700 MHz band which covers frequencies from 694 MHz-791 MHz, is currently used for digital terrestrial TV (DTT) services.
Ofcom plans to transfer these DTT services to the 600 MHz band; however, the 600-MHz frequencies are currently licensed to Arqiva until 2026 to provide additional DTT services – referred to as interim multiplexes.
To overcome this, Ofcom on Friday proposed using its power to revoke Arqiva’s licence and begin moving the interim multiplexes to alternative frequencies from the end of 2017. This would allow Ofcom to begin clearing the 700 MHz band earlier than originally planned.
"Taken together with other acceleration measures, this would enable us to bring forward the point at which the 700 MHz band is available for mobile data use by around 18 months – targeting no later than Q2 2020," Ofcom said, in its consultation.
Ofcom insists that the disruption to digital TV will be minimal, requiring viewers to simply retune their existing receivers. However, it admits that a small minority of households may have to install new rooftop aerials.
The 700 MHz band is also currently used for programme making and special events (PMSE).
On Thursday, Ofcom announced that PMSE users will be able to share access to spectrum in the 960 MHz-1164 MHz band, which is also used by aeronautical radio navigation services.
Ofcom said it is "committed to safeguarding the ongoing delivery of the benefits PMSE provides. The concerts and performances which rely on audio PMSE devices make an important contribution to the creative economy and cultural life of the U.K."
Under previous plans for the 700-MHz band, Ofcom’s proposed dividing it up into 30 MHz of uplink spectrum and 30 MHz of downlink spectrum separated by 25 MHz of spectrum known as the centre gap.
However, Friday’s consultation also proposes allocating this centre gap for mobile data services.
"Making additional mobile spectrum available will allow MNOs to meet growth in demand for mobile data more cost-effectively than they otherwise would have," Ofcom said.
The public has until 20 May to respond to the consultation.
The 700 MHz band has taken on extra significance in recent months.
In late November, the ITU globally harmonised the 700 MHz band by allocating it for LTE use in ITU Region 1, which covers Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.
The decision, taken during last year’s World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15), follows similar action taken at WRC-07, which saw 700-MHz spectrum adopted by ITU regions two and three, which cover the Americas and Asia-Pacific.
In June 2015, Germany became the first European market to sell off 700-MHz spectrum, as part of an auction that also included 900-MHz, 1500-MHz and 1800-MHz frequencies. The process raised €5.1 billion in total.
In November, France also completed a 700-MHz auction, raising €2.8 billion.
