Ofcom to Open 700MHz Digital TV Band for Mobile Broadband by Q2 2020

The United Kingdom’s telecoms regulator has today confirmed that the 700MHz (694-790MHz) radio spectrum band, which is currently used for Digital Terrestrial TV (DTTV) services, will be re-purposed for Mobile Broadband (4G / 5G) operators to use by Q2 2020; 18 months earlier than originally planned.

Ofcom’s move, which will see existing television and wireless microphone services being gradually migrated into the neighbouring 600MHz band over a period of three years (starting in Q3/Q4 2017 – see the regulator’s roll-out MAP at the bottom of this article), has been in the works for the past couple of years.

In keeping with that the regulator has also confirmed that 20MHz of “centre gap” spectrum in the 700MHz band will be similarly allocated for use by mobile data, albeit specifically mobile downlink (SDL) type services. The rest can be used by the more traditional 4G based mobile services, such as those offered via Three UK, O2, Vodafone and EE (BT).

The advantage of using 700MHz is that it operates at a lower frequency and this means that it can cover a wider area (i.e. better coverage for less cost), while also penetrating more effectively through walls for indoor coverage. This should help to meet the Government’s ambitions for improving national broadband coverage.

However 700MHz isn’t ideal for delivering the fastest Mobile Broadband speeds, although this could be improved by harnessing the latest 4G / LTE-Advanced based Carrier Aggregation tech (i.e. using more than one band at a time to deliver extra data). The 700MHz band has at times also been linked to future 5G services, but that tends to prefer much higher frequencies (e.g. 28GHz).

Ofcoms Statement

First, we have taken a spectrum management decision that we will work to accelerate the programme by 18 months and release the 700MHz band in Q2 2020.

Second, we have decided that 20MHz of spectrum in the part of the 700MHz band known as the centre gap should be allocated for use by mobile data (specifically mobile downlink). Linked to this, we have also decided to allow the interim multiplexes to continue operating in this spectrum until at least 1 May 2020, or until mobile downlink services in this spectrum are deployed.

As a result of these decisions we are servicing notice on PMSE users that operate in the 700MHz band that from 1 May 2020 they will no longer have access to spectrum in this band to deliver their services.

Obviously the move means that a “large number of households” (i.e. pretty much everybody in the UK who uses terrestrial TV) will need to re-tune their televisions. Thankfully most existing Freeview TV tuners can already cope with the “new” 600MHz band.

However a smaller number of homes may also need to replace or possibly re-point their aerials. A study conducted by Ofcom earlier this year estimated that between 100,000 and 160,000 UK households might need to replace their aerials (here). A tiny proportion may also have to swap to a Cable or Satellite service.

Finally, the regulator estimates that accelerating completion of the programme by 18 months will increase the benefits of clearance by between £19m and £60m. Ofcom said they took a “cautious approach to the analysis which underpins this estimate“. Consequently, they believe that the benefits are likely to lie towards the top of the range they have identified and may even exceed it. Set against these benefits, they estimate the economic cost of bringing clearance forward to be £14m-15m.

The move is expected to begin in July 2017, when Ofcom starts the process to vary the interim multiplexes licence to change the frequencies they use. After that the regulator intends to review the progress of infrastructure work in August 2017 and, if necessary, revise the target clearance date of Q2 2020. Some sort of Government advertising campaign may also be used to help raise public awareness of the move.

Ofcom’s 700MHz Strategy
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/../maximising-benefits-700mhz-clearance