The Government approves the Technical Plan of DTT, key to the development of 5G networks in Spain

20/06/2019
5g
  • The Council of Ministers today approved a royal decree that will free the 700 MHz band of radio spectrum currently occupied by digital terrestrial television to make room for 5G technology
  • The Second Digital Dividend process will be completed by June 30, 2020, in compliance with the schedule established by the European Union
  • The offer of existing channels will be maintained at present. The channels will have until January 1, 2023 to evolve to high definition
  • The neighboring communities affected by the change of frequencies will have subsidies to pay for the adaptation of their collective reception systems
    • The Council of Ministers today approved two royal decrees to facilitate the development of 5G networks in Spain. The first royal decree approves a new National Technical Plan for digital terrestrial television (DTT) and regulates the release of the Second Digital Dividend. The second royal decree regulates the direct granting of subsidies aimed at compensating the costs arising from the adaptation of the collective reception systems of audiovisual communication services.

    The Council of Ministers today approved two royal decrees to facilitate the development of 5G networks in Spain. The first royal decree approves a new National Technical Plan for digital terrestrial television (DTT) and regulates the release of the Second Digital Dividend. The second royal decree regulates the direct granting of subsidies aimed at compensating the costs arising from the adaptation of the collective reception systems of audiovisual communication services.

    The Second Digital Dividend is a key process to enable the deployment of 5G networks, by releasing the 694-790 MHz band (hereinafter, 700 MHz band) from the radio spectrum, which is currently partially occupied by DTT. This is a European-wide project regulated by Decision (EU) 2017/899 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017, which aims to ensure a coordinated approach to the use of this band in the European Union.

    The release of the Second Digital Dividend will end before June 30, 2020, thus complying with the calendar established by the European Union and with the roadmap published by the Ministry of Economy and Enterprise on June 29, 2018. The government will call a public tender to allocate that band to operators so that it can be available to offer 5G services by June 30, 2020.

    Bet on 5G

    From that date, the 700 MHz band will be available for the provision of services associated with fifth generation mobile telephony, within the National 5G Plan. This maintains the commitment to place Spain among the leading countries in the development of this technology, which will boost the competitiveness of the business fabric and facilitate the appearance of disruptive innovations, in line with what is proposed in the Agenda of Change.

    The new National Technical Plan for DTT approved by the Council of Ministers identifies the radio channels currently used by television and replaces them with new radio channels in a lower band (470-694 MHz).

    The Technical Plan keeps the current offer of digital terrestrial television channels unchanged. Each digital manifold, whatever its scope of coverage, will be able to integrate up to four HD TV channels.

    The royal decree approving the new National Technical Plan also establishes the technical procedure for proceeding with the aforementioned channel transfer, as well as the conditions for its continuity, and includes the technical specifications of digital terrestrial television broadcasts in high definition and ultra high definition.

    A deadline is established -January 1, 2023 - in which all television channels must evolve to high definition and the technological adaptation of digital terrestrial television receiving apparatuses is contemplated. After nine months from the entry into force of the royal decree, the obligation is established for all devices placed on the Spanish market to include the capacity to receive emissions with the DVB-T2 signal transmission technology, in addition to emissions in high definition. The larger ones should be compatible with ultra-high definition broadcasts and incorporate broadband connectivity and interactive HbbTV services.

    Public aid

    The change of frequencies of DTT will involve in the coming months an adaptation of reception facilities in most of the national territory, in the same way as happened in 2015 with the process of liberation of the 800 MHz band (First Digital Dividend). Individual homes will be excluded from this adaptation, where only televisions must be re-tuned.

    The Council of Ministers has approved a royal decree of aid that regulates the direct granting of subsidies worth 150 million euros for the communities of owners for the adaptation of television reception facilities. The grant amounts range from €104.3 to €677.95, depending on the infrastructure previously installed.

    The Government aims to minimize the impact of the process on citizens, as well as on operators and all audiovisual media service providers, who have been informed of it at all times. The deployment will take place in full coordination with neighbouring countries, not only with those belonging to the European Union, subject to the same process, but also with Morocco and Algeria.