EU Commission statement on Mobile TV

The EU Commission continues to push member states to allocate a significant part of the 'Digital Dividend' UHF spectrum to mobile TV services.

On 18th July the Commission adopted a Communication on Strengthening the Internal Market for Mobile TV.
This document can be seen at
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/policy/ecomm/doc/
info_centre/communic_reports/mobile_tv/acte_en.pdf

With regard to spectrum usage the Commission say:

Spectrum in the UHF band (470-862 MHz) is considered the most suitable spectrum for mobile multimedia services due to its technical characteristics. It also provides advantages due to the compatibility of DVB-H with DVB-T. However, use of this spectrum is constrained by the diverging national policies regarding the digital dividend and by a lack of EU coordination.

The Commission urges the Member States to make part of the UHF spectrum available for Mobile TV services as it is freed. The Commission's services have asked the Member States to assess the feasibility of earmarking a sub-band for mobile TV within the digital dividend.

A Commission Communication on the Digital Dividend, planned for the end of 2007, will set out the Commission strategy for the use of the spectrum freed by the switch-off, in particular in the UHF Band.

EU Commission Communication and Reports
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/policy/ecomm/
info_centre/documentation/communic_reports/index_en.htm