Looking to release more spectrum for telcos' 4G networks in the country, Spain's Government has developed a new framework for its national DTT network.
tdtlogoThe plans is thought to likely affect half of the aerials currently in use in Spain and the Government has confirmed that it will pay for adaptation in over one million buildings, spending nearly €300 million. The changes need to be done before the end of the year, otherwise the buildings will likely be missing around a tenth of the DTT signal.
Broadcasters will be transmitting signals in both the old and the new frequency bands until January 2015 in order to avoid coverage problems while the process is carried out.
The reorganisation plan will adapt Spain's spectrum to the European regulation, a movement originally announced to have taken place in January 2014. The new plan will release the 800 MHz band for telecom services and will replace the DTT signals, both with national, regional and local coverage- in the 790-862 MHz band.
In addition to the space releasing for 4G, the new TV slots will have more capacity in order to improve HD broadcastings in DTT, explained the Ministry of Industry during the plan's presentation. Four new free-to-air (FTA) signals will also be awarded within the next six months, although the Government has not unveiled further details. Spain's DTT schedule faced nine channels' closures earlier this year due to irregularities in the awarding process.
The new plan's deployment can be publicly tracked through the website televisiondigital.es.
Source: http://www.rapidtvnews.com/2014092235364/spain-reorganises-dtt-network.html#axzz3E2oJ0NcG
