C61, C62 clearange and the 4G broadband sale

Ofcom have recently issued a consultation document covering the "award" to a number of frequencies ranges for use for "4G" mobile broadband and this may cause disruption to your Freeview reception in the future.

^{Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV 30th March 2011 at 16:33}

One of these ranges, the "800 MHz band" has been reclaimed from analogue television use, and will become available over the next few years.

The original plan envisaged by Ofcom had two blocks of channels, one of C31-C40 and the other of C63-C68, and the digital switchover frequencies have were all planned on this basis.

However, digital switchover in other European countries have left an extended upper band of 72 MHz at 790 to 862 MHz, which has extended the channels here from C61-C69. C69, which was used for programme-making and special events has been allocated C38 from the lower block.

The result is that due to this Ofcom decision, some of the public will now have to another round of switchovers to remove the digital multiplexes that use C61 and C62. Ofcom say

"The DTT clearance programme is in an advanced state of development but we are not yet able to publish a final plan showing when the band will be cleared in specific areas.



Clearing channels 61 and 62 impacts on the DSO programme and we have proceeded with its implementation by integrating it, where practicable, with DSO. Our target has been to complete the clearance so that the 800 MHz band is available across the UK for new services as early as possible. In our June 2009 statement we suggested clearance by the end of 2013 was an achievable though challenging target. Our current expectation is that all of the UK apart from Scotland will be cleared by that date: Northern Ireland by the end of 2012, Wales by October 2013, England by the end of 2013 and Scotland by October 2014.

We will provide further information as the position becomes clearer. We expect to be able to provide a firmer timetable later in spring 2011. "

Proposed "4G" usage of C61-C69

Cable TV - use of the 800 MHz band

Ofcom testing has shown that most existing cable TV equipment should be unaffected by "4G" equipment using the 800MHz band, as long as it not located within 2 meters of the oldest type of set-top box.

Analogue RF - use of 800MHz band

Anyone using legacy RF equipment, such as Sky/Sky+/Sky+HD box "RF out" devices will need to ensure they are not using C61-C68 from 2012 as this will then interfere with 4G devices using the same frequencies.

Lower band - C31 to C40

It is not know what Ofcom now plans for the "lower cleared band", which is now only seven UHF channels, C31 to C37. C38 is now used for PMSE, with C38 and C39 being for the reallocation of C61 and C62 in the upper band.

Due to the need to leave "guard bands" between digital TV and other usages, the small size of the lower cleared band may means that the most practicable use for this it to provide additional Freeview capacity on some transmitters.

This may be used to provide an "upgrade path" for the commercial multiplexes to the DVB-T2, perhaps using single frequency networks, but without specific proposals from Ofcom this is speculative.