Progress towards a harmonized European Union approach to digital dividend spectrum continues, with the European Commission to propose that the 790MHz-862MHz band be kept free of broadcasting and dedicated to mobile broadband.
According to a draft document seen by the Dow Jones Newswires, the Commission wants EU countries to leave the band free of broadcasting, so it can be used for mobile broadband and other communication services. The EC is set to adopt the recommendation late next week. This would not be legally binding, but recommendations do set a strong precedent for member states.
The EC will also be hoping to accelerate action by countries that are lagging behind on digital switchover, though most major economies plan to make the change by 2012. It will call for a hard deadline for all states of early 2012 at the latest and argues that by allocating spectrum to wireless broadband services, Europe can benefit by an additional €20bn to €50bn over 15 years.
This could be limited should some countries seek to use the dividend frequencies for other purposes such as regional broadcasting (a key issue especially in Italy and Spain).
Further usage of the band for broadcasting in one country could ‘severely impede’ its use for new applications in neighboring states, the EC says, because of interference.