Digital terrestrial TV channel switching has got under way in eight Polish voivodships.
Allowing for the release of frequency bands for 5G technology, the process is being monitored by the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) and will be completed this Friday, June 5.
In a statement, the UKE says that on the first day (Wednesday, June 3) the monitoring covered over 67 digital terrestrial broadcasting stations, including all main broadcasting centres of the MUX 1, MUX 2 and MUX 3 multiplexes, which represent nearly 70% of the total number of all stations affected by the change. Switching problems were found at this stage only in the case of four transmitters. The switchover also applies to MUX 4 (including the local one).
It adds that the release of the 700 MHz band, currently used by terrestrial television, i.e. refarming and reorganisation of terrestrial television multiplexes results from the decisions of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. The technical operators selected by the broadcasters are responsible for the switching and quality of the transmitted signal, but the UKE has been involved in this process from the beginning.
The president of the UKE prepared a frequency management plan for the appropriate frequency range, which was then consulted publicly and issued a decision to change the bookings for broadcasters, agreed with the chairman of the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT).
Poland is due to complete the transition to DVB-T2/HEVC on June 30, 2022.