Planning and Regulatory Progress for Digital Terrestrial Implementation in the UK

The world's first commercial digital terrestrial television service will be launched in the UK in November 1998. The 6 multiplexes being launched will be providing a mix of free to air public service channels and new pay services which will be available to between 70 and 90% of the population within 1.5 years of launch. — This paper will describe how the UK approached the spectrum planning and licensing of these services. The paper will highlight: • The spectrum planning process. • Criteria for licence award. • Interoperability concerns (digital satellite, terrestrial and cable service accessibility). • Ancillary service delivery (subtitling, Audio Description and Signing). • The development of Open standard digital terrestrial television receivers.

Published

1999-07

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/M001170

ISBN

978-1-61482-948-5