EBU calls for no further reduction of DTT spectrum

Any further reduction of the spectrum available for digital-terrestrial broadcasting will have “negative consequences for the public and broadcasters alike,” according to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

The EBU has issued a position paper on DTT in which it argues that any further reduction in the spectrum allocated to broadcasting will cause problems including “increased interference levels, decreased coverage, fewer services and a reduced possibility for future development”. The organisation further warned that “degradation of the terrestrial platform will likely entail a large scale migration to other platforms and this will inevitably incur very high costs much of which would have to be borne by the public”.

The EBU called for sufficient spectrum to be made available now and in the future to accommodate the evolving needs of terrestrial broadcasters and argued for the importance of DTT even in markets where other TV distribution systems were predominant by acting as a stimulus to competition. It argued for regulatory clarity to ensure that broadcasters and industry suppliers had the confidence to invest in the platform going forward.

The EBU has also called for further exploration of the potential synergies between DTT and other platforms – notably broadband – to deliver personalised services.