Stakeholders in Sweden are vying to be given the right to take advantage of the country’s newly released digital spectrum. However, unlike the UK, the government has previously indicated the digital dividend will go to broadcast television services. Broadcasters are currently lobbying the communications minister Åsa Torstensson to stick to the original plan.
Speaking at a Stockholm conference this week, Torstensson said the crunch question was how much capacity should go to TV and how much could be set aside for services including mobile broadband. “I believe that there are good conditions for terrestrial digital TV to continue to be an attractive platform while at the same time we get mobile broadband at low cost,” she said.
Telcos are pointing to the summer surge in the demand for mobile broadband over the 3G network. Johan Lindgren, CEO, Telenor Sweden, said the capacity gave the opportunity to extend mobile broadband to rural areas.
