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700 MHz Who, where and when? Darko Ratkaj European Broadcasting Union LS Summit 2015
700 MHz
Who, where and when?
Darko Ratkaj
European Broadcasting Union
LS Summit 2015
• How soon the 700 MHz band could be licensed and in use?
Richard’s questions
• When will user equipment become readily available?
• How will the different regional plans (APT/EU/FCC) impact
the usefulness of the band?
• Will different national decisions (e.g. on use and switch-over deadlines)
cause unworkable cross-border interference?
• Is the rest of the UHF band necessary for future broadcasting services?
• Should some of the band be reserved exclusively for other users
(e.g. PPDR or PMSE)?
• Is more UHF spectrum still necessary for mobile broadband?
• How soon the 700 MHz band could be licensed and in use?
I will talk about …
• [When will user equipment become readily available?]
• [How will the different regional plans (APT/EU/FCC) impact
the usefulness of the band?]
• Will different national decisions (e.g. on use and switch-over deadlines)
cause unworkable cross-border interference?
• [Should some of the band be reserved exclusively for other users
(e.g. PPDR or PMSE)?]
But firstly, I would like to talk about the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT)
• Is the rest of the UHF band necessary for future broadcasting services?
• Is more UHF spectrum still necessary for mobile broadband?
DTT IS A SUCCESS STORY
• DTT is now launched in most European countries
• Used by more than 50% of European households (over 250 million viewers)
• Delivers over 2000 TV channels
• Watched 3 - 4 hours per day per person
• More than 1 billion DTT receivers in use around the world
• Almost universally available (population coverage >98%)
• Free-to-air, no recurring costs for the viewers
• Low cost for broadcasters – under 1€ per TV channel per year /household
• Supports the unique European broadcasting model • coexistence of public service broadcasting and commercial TV
• national, regional and local TV services
• A key pillar for European content creation
• DTT continues to develop
DTT is about Free-to-Air and Local Content
‘FTA still attracts a viewing share of around 80% in Europe, even in countries with pay-TV
penetration of more than 50% (like the UK), or even over 80% (like the Netherlands or Denmark).
The majority of programmes broadcast on the main FTA channels are original productions which
may be commissioned as independent productions: the main FTA groups in the UK account for
80% of the value of independent UK production commissioning.
The situation is similar elsewhere in the EU. Analysys Mason, January 2015
Split of investments in French
original audiovisual production Source:
Analysys Mason from CSA, 2009-2013
Why is the 700 MHz band important?
The UHF TV band allocations
470 MHz 862 MHz
21 30 40 50 60 69
Broadcasting 2006
470 MHz 862 MHz
21 30 40 50 60 69
Broadcasting
790 MHz
61
BC + Mobile
2007
470 MHz 862 MHz
21 30 40 50 60 69
Broadcasting
790 MHz
61
BC + Mobile
48
694 MHz
BC + Mobile 2012
470 MHz 862 MHz
21 30 40 50 60 69
790 MHz
61
BC + Mobile BC + Mobile 2015
694 MHz
48
500, 600 MHz 700 MHz 800 MHz
X
X
X
The impact of the loss of the 700 MHz band
on terrestrial broadcasting
Direct impact:
• Transitional issues to free the band from DTT • costs for broadcasters and the viewers
• risk of disruption of services
• Loss of 30% of the bandwidth capacity
(43% if the 800 MHz band is taken into account ) • reduced platform capacity
• reduced scope for future development
None of this is
in the interest
of the European
audiovisual industry
and the consumers!
The impact will
not be the same
in all countries!
Indirect impact:
• Weakened DTT platform; less competition
• Negative signal about the future of DTT • lack of certainty for future investments
• no innovation; risk of decline, end of DTT
• loss of the only free-to-air platform
with potentially universal reach
The full study report is available at
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/image/smart-20130014_final_report-v002_8222.pdf
The process of deciding on the UHF allocations
WHO?
European Union 28 Member States
48 Administrations 193 Countries
WHERE AND WHEN?
193 countries
48 Countries
EC+Admins+Industry
28 Countries
EU
Africa
Arab
states
RCC
Region 3
Asia-Pacific
Individual and
multi-country
proposals
CPM JTG4567 CPM report
SG5&WP:s
SG6&WP:s
Region 2
Americas
ECC
Decision
DEC(15)01
PT1
48 Countries
CEPT
Admins
EC
European
Commission
(EC) European
Council
EU
legislation
(RSPP)
European
Parliament
• HLG Lamy report
• EU convergence study
• EU spectrum inventory
• RSPG opinion Policy and
Strategy
EC+Member States
CEPT
Report 53
28 Countries
Member States
RSC
RSPG
EC Decision
Mandate to CEPT on
harmonized conditions
in the 700 MHz band
EC
EC MS
EU position
for WRC-15
TG6 ECC PTD CPG European
Common
Proposals
ECC Report 224
Future of UHF
ITU WRC World
Radiocommunications
Conference
Question:
How soon the 700 MHz band could be licensed and in use?
‘A coordinated transition of the DTT platform to new technologies such as DVB-T2
and eventually out of the 700 MHz band would comprise the following main areas:
• Planning and preparations
• International frequency coordination
• Management and coordination
• Communications
• Technical activities
• Support to the trade stakeholders
• User support’ Agreed transition roadmap, Lamy Report, Annex 2
‘RSPG recommends that Member States make the 700 MHz band available for WBB
as early as possible. RSPG supports making the band available for effective use by
ECS by the end of 2020, noting that Member states may decide for duly justified
reasons and without the need for derogation to delay the availability of the band
by up to two years.’ RSPG Opinion on the future use of the UHF band in the EU
How soon the 700 MHz band could be licensed and in use?
How soon the 700 MHz band could be licensed and in use? (2)
National authorities need to ensure: • Replacement capacity for the affected DTT services
• Replacement capacity for the affected PMSE services (wireless mics)
• Protection of DTT and PMSE from the mobile interference
• An EU-wide release date is not realistic before 2022,
more likely around 2025
• Diversity of national situations to be taken into account
• Coordinated process but without a mandatory release date
The 700 MHz band can be liberated only if broadcasters, PMSE users,
and the viewers make significant investments.
The key conditions:
• Full compensation of the direct costs
• Certainty that the remaining part of the UHF band will remain available
for DTT in the long term
Timing
Costs
The 700 MHz coordination challenge
Swedish example, 10 neighbouring countries
No 700 MHz
decisions yet
DTT licences
until 2021
DTT licences
until 2020
700 MHz remains
used for DTT
700 MHz band
clearance
2016-2017
700 MHz
clearance by 2017
No 700 MHz
decision yet
Question:
Will different national decisions (e.g. on use and switch-over deadlines)
cause unworkable cross-border interference?
Q: How soon the 700 MHz band could be licensed and in use?
A: As soon as it is cleared from DTT. EU-wide release of the band not realistic before 2022-2025.
Diverging views on the cross-border interference issue
Our studies show that the different use in different countries would not be feasible,
i.e. DTT in one country would interfere into 4G/LTE in the neighbouring country.
But not everyone agrees.
Impact of Norwegian DTT at 700 MHz on LTE uplink in Sweden and Denmark
Interference level for 1% of time.
Calculations according to ITU Report BT.2337
240 kilometers
Case study:
Interference from Spanish DTT at 800 MHz
into LTE base stations in Portugal
Until 31st March 2015 Spanish DTT transmitters
were on air in the 800 MHz band and created
interference into LTE base stations in Portugal
and south-west France.
Interference calculations according to ITU Report BT.2337
DTT coverage calculations based on ITU Rec.1546
1% of the time
Level
(dBuV/m) I/N (dB)
Distance
(1% time)
Distance
(10% time)
19.3 -6 219 km 171 km
25.3 -6 to 0 183 km 138 km
31.1 -6
X-polarisation
148 km 109 km
37.1 0
X-polarisation
116 km 83 km
Question:
Is the rest of the UHF band necessary for future broadcasting services?
Q: How soon the 700 MHz band could be licensed and in use?
A: As soon as it is cleared from DTT. EU-wide release of the band not realistic before 2022-2025.
Q: Will different national decisions (e.g. on use and switch-over deadlines) cause unworkable
cross-border interference?
A: Most likely yes!
Is the rest of the UHF band necessary for future
broadcasting services?
Lamy Report
In most EU Member States DTT represents the backbone of the European audiovisual model.
It will continue to play an essential role as a major distribution platform for the foreseeable future.
Its sustainable development is dependent on spectrum in the UHF band, which gives it
capacity to further innovate and develop and thus to remain viable and competitive.’
European Commission - policy objectives for the WRC-15
Considering the importance of the lower part of the UHF band for broadcasting, there is a need
to ensure that WRC-15 allows sufficient spectrum to be retained, in the Union, for terrestrial
provision of audiovisual media services in the 470-694 MHz band.
This is in line with Article 7 of Decision 243/2012/EU which requires Member States, in cooperation
with the Commission, to aim at ensuring that there is sufficient spectrum available for satellite and
terrestrial provision of innovative audiovisual media services to Union citizens, considering also that
half of European households currently receive broadcasting through terrestrial services and that
broadcasting in Europe currently relies heavily on the 470-694 MHz band.
RSPG Opinion on the future of the UHF band
RSPG recognises the importance of the DTT platform and the need to provide certainty for
investments in broadcasting infrastructure. Therefore RSPG recommends that the frequency
band 470-694 MHz shall remain available for DTT in the foreseeable future, i.e. 2030.
How important is DTT in your country? • How many households are receiving TV terrestrially?
• How much national, regional and local content relies on DTT?
Public value of DTT • Is there awareness about the importance of DTT amongst decision makers?
• How is the pubic value protected and promoted?
What are the national audiovisual media policies? • Is there commitment to public service media?
• … and to free-to-air TV?
• Which infrastructure will support these public policy objectives in the future?
• What is the development roadmap for this infrastructure?
Are there any alternatives to DTT? • What are they and can they deliver the same benefits?
• When will they be available?
• At what costs?
• How to migrate the audiences?
Questions for the national regulators
Question:
Is more UHF spectrum still necessary for mobile broadband?
Q: How soon the 700 MHz band could be licensed and in use?
A: As soon as it is cleared from DTT. EU-wide release of the band not realistic before 2022-2025.
Q: Will different national decisions (e.g. on use and switch-over deadlines) cause unworkable
cross-border interference?
A: Yes!
Q: Is the rest of the UHF band necessary for future broadcasting services?
A: Yes!
Is more UHF spectrum still necessary for mobile broadband?
Lamy report
‘Noting the recent assignments in the 800 MHz band, the 700 MHz band is not immediately needed
for mobile services.’
European Commission
‘Based on the analysis of spectrum supply and demand, the Commission believes there is
currently no need for additional spectrum harmonisation, beyond the 1200 MHz target,
in the range 400 MHz - 6 GHz for licensed wireless broadband.’
The level of under-utilised spectrum for mobile broadband is still significant - approximately 30% .’
Report on Spectrum Inventory, September 2014:
RSPG
‘The total amount of spectrum already available in Europe for wireless broadband services is
nominally 1701.50 MHz comprised of 990 MHz for terrestrial applications, 173 MHz for satellite
based broadband and importantly 538.50 MHz for WiFi-type applications.
In order to meet the intermediate target in the RSPP to make at least 1200 MHz of spectrum
available for wireless data traffic by 2015, taking the terrestrial component alone would require at
least 210 MHz of additional spectrum to be re-allocated to wireless broadband.
RSPG Opinion on Spectrum for Wireless broadband, February 2013:
This is before the release of the two broadcasting bands
• 700 MHz : 694 - 790 MHz => 96 MHz
• L-band : 1452 - 1492 MHz => 40 MHz
Is more UHF spectrum still necessary for mobile broadband? (2)
Highly unrealistic assumptions about future demand:
• User density in some cases exceeding 200 000 users/km2,
• Data rates above 400 Mbit/s for some applications
• High mobility assumed in the home and office environment
Population density:
Dhaka: 45 000 /km2
London: 15 000 /km2
Lichtenau: 180 /km2
Data rates:
Netflix HD 5 Mbps
Missing elements:
• Impact of network configuration on spectrum demand
• Future technological developments (e.g. coding standards)
• Geographical variation of traffic is not taken into account
Verizon Wireless’
market share in Q3/2014: 34%
79% of the Verizon’s
mobile data traffic of the total cellular
data traffic in the USA
~
Verizon’s LTE network uses about 40 MHz of spectrum
in 700 MHz and 1.8 / 2.1 GHz bands combined
The mobile is asking for 1300 – 1900 MHz.
17th February 2015:
In a conference call with investors, Tony Melone, Verizon Communications' executive vice president
of network, said that "entering the auction there was no markets where we felt compelled to
acquire spectrum, irrespective of the price."
Verizon did not feel pressure to aggressively bid for spectrum because it already had at least 40 MHz
of AWS-1 spectrum in many U.S. markets, especially in the eastern United States, Melone said.
www.fiercewireless.com/story/verizon-aws-3-we-have-least-40-mhz-aws-spectrum-92-top-100-markets/2015-02-17
26%
26% of the total mobile data
traffic in USA is delivered
over 40 MHz of spectrum!
The amount of licensed mobile spectrum:
• 800 MHz or more: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Portugal
• 700 - 800 MHz: Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, UK
The amount of mobile spectrum has little impact on
consumer prices and quality of service
21st May 2015 http://dfmonitor.eu
Estimation model and parameters
‘Global mobile traffic (including M2M):
based on power function fitting
(an example of curve fitting) to estimate
the year on year growth until year 2030,
then calculate the mobile traffic every year.’
62 99 158 249 390 607 938
1439
2194
3327
5016
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
traffic/month (EB)
Draft New Report ITU-R M.[IMT.BEYOND2020.TRAFFIC] Estimation of global mobile traffic beyond 2020 (M2M traffic included)
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
Non-Video Video M2M
traffic/month (EB)
Historical data used in the estimation:
Global mobile traffic in the period 2005 - 2012
‘Mobile internet traffic and M2M traffic will
grow dramatically after year 2020.
Video traffic will be 4.2 times than non-video
in 2025 and 6 times in 2030.
The traffic volume consumed by M2M
services will be 7% of the total in 2020
and 12% of the total in 2030.’
The EBU view is that there is no need for more spectrum for mobile broadband,
for the following reasons:
1. The already available mobile spectrum is underused
• Not all spectrum has been licensed and deployed
• Large parts of the spectrum are occupied by inefficient legacy technologies.
2. The estimated spectrum requirements are exaggerated
• Based on unrealistic assumptions about future demand
• Do not take into account the ongoing technological developments
• Do not take into account the evolution in network topologies
• Does not take into account geographical variation of the traffic
3. Future traffic forecasts
• Based on inadequate methodology and non-transparent assumptions
• Does not take into account the economic aspects
4. Relationship between the estimated traffic growth and the spectrum requirements
has not been explained
5. The remaining part of the UHF band (470-694 MHz) is essential
for the DTT platform to remain viable in the future.
Is more UHF spectrum still necessary for mobile broadband? (3)
Q: How soon the 700 MHz band could be licensed and in use?
A: As soon as it is cleared from DTT. EU-wide release of the band not realistic before 2022-2025.
Q: Will different national decisions (e.g. on use and switch-over deadlines) cause unworkable
cross-border interference?
A: Yes!
Q: Is the rest of the UHF band necessary for future broadcasting services?
A: Yes!
Q: Is more UHF band still necessary for mobile broadband?
A: No!
Darko Ratkaj [email protected]
