ABU supports work to
protect broadcasting
spectrum
The ABU says it
fully supports the
world’s broadcasters
in opposing changes
to the
allocation of
digital TV and
satellite
distribution
spectrums.
The ABU worked with
the World
Broadcasting Union’s
Technical
Committee’s
formulating
recommendations on
spectrum allocation
to go before the
World
Radiocommunication
Conference (WRC-15)
in Geneva,
Switzerland, next
year.
The WBU
recommendations
state that the use
of radio-frequency
spectrum by
broadcasters remains
“an important
vehicle for the
efficient and
scalable delivery of
high-quality media
content and
emergency alerting
services to both
fixed and mobile
audiences”.
Specifically on DTV,
the WBU does not
support any change
to the current
spectrum
allocations at UHF
frequencies (470
–694/ 698 MHz),
stating that
contiguous spectrum
should be allotted
in the bands
assigned to the
broadcast service to
allow for the robust
delivery of
high-quality media
content, data and
signalling that
meets or exceeds the
capabilities of
current fixed and
mobile reception and
display devices as
well as those
that are expected to
be deployed in the
future.
It also does not
support any change
to the current
spectrum allocations
at C-band or
extended C-band
satellite
distribution
frequencies.
The WBU states: “The
use of downlink
spectrum allocated
at C-Band (3.7 – 4.2
GHz) or
extended C-Band in
the Fixed-Satellite
Service is essential
to broadcasters’
operations
around the world.
Systems employing
this FSS band have
been extensively
deployed
over decades,
primarily for the
distribution of
content from network
centres to
affiliated
stations, cable
head-ends and to
other receiving
systems.”
The WBU says its
position has been
supported by
spectrum studies of
both UHF and Cband
frequencies that
have demonstrated
that major
interference to
broadcast
operations would
result from sharing
these bands with
International Mobile
Telecommunications
(IMT). These studies
have been filed with
the International
Telecommunication
Union (ITU).
It adds: “The WBU
will continue to
participate actively
in spectrum studies
of the
radiofrequency bands
both assigned and
associated with
broadcasting, in
order to ensure the
continued efficient
use of these bands
for broadcast media
content
distribution.”
