The Government approves the new National Technical Plan for DTT

The Executive is launching an action plan for the release of the digital dividend and will provide aid for antennaization worth around 290 million euros.

The Council of Ministers approved this Friday, September 19, the new National Technical Plan for Digital Terrestrial Television, as well as the Action Plan for the release of the Digital Dividend, with which the Government gives new impetus to the arrival of 4G mobile technology throughout Spain and the promotion of high definition in DTT, while guaranteeing continuity in the dissemination of the current offer of television channels for the population.

Last March, technical work had already begun to fulfill the European mandate to release the 800 MHz band for electronic communications services. With the approval of this Royal Decree, the Government launches a complete plan of actions in the technical, monitoring and control and communication areas that guarantee the success of the process.

This process of releasing the Digital Dividend, a fundamental piece of the Digital Agenda for Spain, involves a rearrangement of television frequencies in the 790-862MHz band, both public and private, national and regional. The Digital Dividend band is being used for the fourth generation of mobile telephony throughout Europe and its release allows the Spanish economic sector to continue at the forefront in telecommunications and generate employment.

4G implies economic benefits for Europe estimated at 150 billion euros. Furthermore, 4G in this band allows for very high-speed mobile connections, better coverage inside buildings and higher levels of geographic coverage, particularly in rural areas.

Adaptation of facilities

However, and in order that during the process no citizen stops watching any television channel, simultaneous broadcasts (Simulcast) will be enabled in the main broadcasting centers of the current channel on the new viewing channel for several months, which will facilitate the adaptation of users' television reception facilities.

These simultaneous broadcasts have already begun for 40 percent of the population and will expand in the coming weeks in each geographic area. All necessary information will be communicated to citizens with sufficient time so that the adjustments they have to make can be made optimally.

The Government will take charge of part of the antenization process. A Royal Decree that will regulate aid to communities of homeowners that could be affected by the process of releasing the digital Dividend.

The communities of owners must make their adaptations as soon as possible and always before the end of 2014, so as not to lose any television channels.

It will be necessary to make some adaptations to the collective antennas of approximately one million buildings, at a cost of around 290 million euros. This reorganization will not affect 45 percent of the population, some twenty-one million citizens.

Until December 31, 2014, everyone will continue to watch all television channels. From January 1, 2015, buildings that have adapted their antennas will continue to receive 100% of the channels. However, those buildings that have not been adapted will receive, on average, 90 percent of the channels and could stop receiving lower-rated channels.

In addition, the Technical Plan establishes that 30 percent of the frequencies available for national private television be allocated to increasing the current offering of channels by calling for a contest. In the configuration of this contest, priority will be given to the offer of high definition content.

Communication Plan and Action Plan

The Action Plan for the release of the digital dividend includes, in detail, the activities to be carried out to complete the digital dividend process and constantly monitor it.

It contemplates an ambitious communication plan that aims to provide citizens with all the information about the digital dividend, as well as the actions that, where appropriate, must be carried out to adapt their facilities.

A communication campaign will be launched with different actions and the telephone numbers 954 30 77 96 and 901 20 10 04 will be made available to the population to answer any questions, as well as the website www.televisiondigital.es.