Getting the most from the ‘Digital Dividend’
Dec 17, 2015
The Digital Dividend
• What is it and why does it matter?• What is the EU saying and doing about it?• Can we put a value on it?• Making it work locally• The big Switch-Off• Conclusions
What is it and Why does it Matter
• “The radio spectrum freed up for other uses when terrestrial TV goes analogue to digital”
• About 80% of current spectrum ‘cleared spectrum’ and ‘white space’
• High quality spectrum: high bandwidth, long distance, and good penetration – about 320MHz of it.
• Radio spectrum is public property: must be used to maximise public interest
What can it be used for?
• More spectrum for terrestrial television – From standard to high definition– More channels– New geographical configuration– ‘Future-proof’ DTT standards
• 3G and new generation mobile• Fixed Wireless Broadband
EU & International Dimension
Coordination needs because:• Overspill of signals near borders• Enlarging market of identical equipment• Roaming services are facilitated.BUT• EU not in a position to pursue a mandatory
approach because of huge national variations
EU Progress2002: Radio Spectrum Decision created the Radio
Spectrum Committee2003: Invited members states to switch by 2012 “as far as
possible”2006: International Telecoms Union agrees 790-862MHz
shared between TV, mobile, fixed2009: Commission Communication: MSs “requested to
reaffirm commitment to 2012 switch-off.”2010: Commission Decision: No obligation to open
800MHz to other services before 2015, but if you do, must follow common technical parameters.
Key Future Issues: Use of “White Space”.
Putting a Value on the Digital Dividend
Different kinds of value:• Private Value: As private consumers and
users, including producer innovation, incremental value
• External Value: As citizens, the shared collective value
The sums
Private Value for EU estimates:• €150 billion to €600 billion over 15 years• Most recent: €0.2 billion to €95 billion
External/Social Value EU estimate: • €7.5 billion to €90 billion
Research in Serbia
Europe-economics Study 2010 concludes:• “there is not enough ‘core information’ in
Serbia to allow a valuation from basics (it would take a lot of time and money to get such information).”
Potential Social Benefits
• Access and inclusion, including public services • Quality of life• Belonging to community• Educated citizens• Cultural understanding• Informed democracy • Social ‘bads’ (negative value from above)
Services Delivering Social Good
• Programme making and Special events• Low power e.g. Home wireless, ‘last-mile’• Local television, community and commercial• Rural and mobile broadband• National DTT including public service• High definition TV on DTT
Digital Dividend and Local/Community Television
• Council of Europe: Concerned that the European Commission promotes pushes private value, downplaying public value, and argues for a better balance.
• Argues the case for community television, supported by the European Parliament
• Pushes to make digital spectrum available for Community Television
Ofcom (UK) Digital Local Report
Five ways people value local broadcasting:• Inform us about our locality• Stimulate interest in arts, sciences, history,and
local ways to get involved, informal learning• Reflect and strengthen cultural identify• Raise awareness of cultural diversity • Support and enhance access to local services.
ASO and DTT in SEE
Analogue Switch Off: • Croatia completed December 2010• Serbia Deadline April 2012• Montenegro Deadline end 2012• Bosnia & Herzegovina Dec 2011 (...2015?)DTT: Difficulties with commercial modelAlbania first service 2004Macedonia first service 2009Serbia: Trial in Autumn 2011? Two multiplexes:
National/Regional; and local programmes.
Recommendations
• A measured approach, each country at their own pace.
• Opening a debate around– What is the value of the Digital Dividend, and the
social value?– Should spectrum be allocated around public need,
and not a market driven approach, or both?– Should spectrum be kept to allow TV develop?– Can non-profit community channels deliver social
value, and how can they survive?