The EU’s Radio Spectrum Policy Group has recommended broadcast and PMSE be given priority in the UHF Band until at least 2030.
The EU will now coordinate the recommendation with the national administrations in the European Council ahead of a crucial vote at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) next year.
Its official opinion says there are socio-economic benefits of free-to-air broadcast and wireless content production equipment until at least 2030. While not on the face of it radical – many agree with the position – the BBC has signalled its intention to move to online broadcasting at that time.
The RSPG Opinion does point out that there are diverging opinions among some EU member states, finding that “many […] do not see the need to adopt regulatory actions at this moment (No Change at WRC-23, with a possible Agenda Item for WRC-27 or WRC-31) and that several other Member States find it necessary to adopt regulatory actions (co-primary allocation to mobile, except aeronautical mobile, service which could become effective at a later stage (e.g. 31.12.2030).”
It says WRC-31 might be the right time for a future review of the technological and market developments in the sub-700 MHz band. However, a possible WRC-31 agenda item shall be formulated in such a way as to allow a continuation of DTT and PMSE in the sub-700 MHz band beyond 2030 in those countries where this is required.
