The BBC has today begun test transmissions ahead of the launch of terrestrial HD services. The transmission companies National Grid Wireless and Arqiva are supporting the DVB-T2 broadcasts from the Guildford transmitter to the south west of London.
The DVB-T2 draft standard was only confirmed yesterday (June 26) and the broadcasts mark the first time that signals compliant with the DVB-T2 specification have been transmitted. The DVB estimates the use of DVB-T2 will result in capacity gains of up to 45%.
The approval will come as welcome news to Ofcom, which has been counting on the development of the standard to put its HD plans into action. The regulator is clearing Multiplex B to allow the public service broadcasters to each take HD capacity. The first permanent HD services are expected to launch in the North West following switchover in the Granada region during 2009.
“We are delighted that our team in collaboration with our partners has been able to deliver such a key piece of technology in such a short timescale,” said Justin Mitchell, leader of the DVB-T2 modem development team at the BBC. “This is a big step forward in enabling the introduction of full HD terrestrial on Freeview by the end of 2009.”
The tests, which are expected to lead to the transmission of BBC HD are on UHF channel 53 (730 MHz).
BBC Research & Innovation has been leading this area of the DVB’s work that has received contributions from more than 60 countries. The technology will be demonstrated live at this year’s IBC exhibition in Amsterdam.
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