A new German alliance of market players wants to ensure that the UHF frequencies in the 470 to 694 MHz range remain available for terrestrial broadcasting and event technology in the long term.
With its move, the newly founded Alliance for Broadcasting and Cultural Frequencies wants to prevent the spectrum from being allocated to mobile network operators or other users at the next World Radiocommunication Conference in 2023 (WRC-23).
The founding members include public broadcasters ARD, ZDF, the commercial broadcasters’ industry association VAUNET, Deutschlandradio, the media authorities, Media Broadcast, the initiative SOS – Save Our Spectrum, Sennheiser and industry association ZVEI.
The UHF range between 470 and 694 MHz is currently allocated for broadcasting and event technology until 2030. In Germany, ARD, ZDF and Media Broadcast use the frequencies for DTT (DVB-T2/Freenet TV). In addition, the frequencies are used at events, concerts and festivals for radio microphones and other wireless production equipment, as well as at trade fairs or lectures at universities. Other users are weather services and astronomy.
The alliance is campaigning, especially with political decision-makers, to preserve the proven frequency spectrum and thus the diversity of media and culture in the long term. Via terrestrial transmitters, broadcasters can directly serve and inform the population, even in the event of crises or natural disasters. With the new 5G Broadcast standard, it will be possible to transmit TV channels and other media services directly to smartphones and tablets via the frequencies in the future.
At WRC-23, a decision will be made on the future use of the UHF range between 470 and 694 MHz from 2030 and thus on the future of terrestrial broadcasting and cultural frequencies. Due to their particularly good technical characteristics, the frequencies are also sought after by other groups, including mobile network operators, the military, authorities and organisations with security tasks. The decisive factors for future use are the results of WRC-23 and the scenarios for Germany and Europe based on them.
In a first online conference, the alliance wants to inform about the background and challenges regarding the broadcast and cultural frequencies. The event, which will take place on December 1, 2021, 14:00-15:30 CET, is aimed at federal and state politicians, European and international frequency bodies, authorities dealing with frequency issues, press/media and the interested public. Registration is free.
