The BMCOforum, the association of mobile TV stakeholders, has warned administrations to carefully evaluate the considerable interference risk to mobile TV prior to allowing any use of TV White Spaces in the UHF broadcast spectrum for licence exempt wireless services and/or devices.
Recent developments in several spectrum areas made it necessary for the BMCOforum to refine and update its spectrum position for mobile TV.
While its position regarding the UHF-band remains unchanged, the update mainly relates to the L-band and S-band. With regard to hybrid satellite/terrestrial mobile TV, BMCOforum takes into account the selection by the European Commission of two operators for the 2×30 MHz of satellite S-band spectrum in 2009 and the handling of the European selection and Authorisation Process (ESAP) by the European Commission. According to the latter, the National Regulatory Authorities shall clarify the national conditions as soon as possible, in particular regarding the complementary ground components (CGC).
The proposal to complement the satellite service in the L-band from 1479.5 to 1492 MHz with terrestrial networks operating in the band 1467-1492 MHz could be further investigated, provided that it is not binding for all countries and does not prevent the deployment of terrestrial-only mobile TV in band 1452-1479.5 MHz.
The BMCOforum has now added a new position concerning TV White Space devices in the UHF band. The updated version of the position paper is available for public download at www.bmcoforum.org.