These are the areas where the change in DTT frequencies will begin

This week the first switching on of new digital terrestrial television (DTT) frequencies begins in Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera, as well as in 94 municipalities in the province of Cáceres, and in 24 towns in the province of Huelva.

The next July 24 The first switching on of new digital terrestrial television (DTT) frequencies begins in Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera, as well as in 94 municipalities in the province of Caceres, and on July 26 in 24 locations in the province Huelva. Some 36,000 buildings in these areas will have to adapt their collective antenna installations to continue receiving the full range of DTT channels.

They will have a maximum period of six months to do so and will have public aid.

In order to facilitate the transition and minimize the impact on citizens, for a time the television networks will broadcast simultaneously through the new and old frequencies (simulcast), before proceeding to turn off the latter.

This was explained by the general director of Telecommunications and Information Technologies of the Secretariat of State for Digital Advancement, Roberto Sanchez, which has clarified that the change in frequencies will not affect all buildings in the indicated areas of the Balearic Islands, Cáceres and Huelva. Specifically, medium or large community buildings that are equipped with single-channel systems or programmable switchboards must make adaptations. During the next six months, these neighborhood communities (about 36,000, in which 760,000 people live) must contact a registered installer (access to the list) to make the necessary changes to the reception systems of their buildings.

Individual homes will be excluded from this adaptation, where only the televisions will have to be retuned to be able to enjoy the full DTT offer, once the simulcasts end.

This process will not imply the appearance or disappearance of television channels, they simply shift frequencies. Likewise, it should be noted that this process will not imply the obsolescence of televisions or DTT decoders.

The change in DTT frequencies occurs as a result of the release of the so-called Second Digital Dividend, which will clear the 700 MHz band of the radio spectrum, currently partially occupied by DTT, to allow the deployment of future 5G telecommunications networks there.

In compliance with the obligations imposed by the European Union, the 700 MHz band must be fully available before June 30, 2020. This is established by Decision (EU) 2017/899 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of May 17, 2017, which aims to guarantee a coordinated approach to the use of these frequencies in the community territory. The process will be developed in full coordination with neighboring countries, not only with those belonging to the European Union, subject to the same process, but also with Morocco and Algeria.

As of June 30, 2020, therefore, the 700 MHz band will be available for the provision of services associated with fifth generation mobile telephony, within the National 5G Plan. This maintains the commitment to place Spain among the leading countries in the development of this technology, which will boost the competitiveness of the business fabric and facilitate the emergence of disruptive innovations.

Phased migration

The general director has announced that in September the frequency changes will continue in other areas of Spain such as Albacete, Almería, Badajoz and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The release of the Second Digital Dividend will occur in a phased manner in most of the national territory, starting with the areas described above. The details of the municipalities where new emissions will be switched on are specified in royal decree 391/2019, of June 21.

In total, according to estimates made by the Secretary of State for Digital Advancement, it will affect around 850,000 buildings and 21 million inhabitants. Asturias, Barcelona, ​​A Coruña, Menorca, Melilla and part of the provinces of Toledo and Murcia will be exempt from frequency changes in the national and regional digital multiplexes.

public aid

To minimize the impact of this process on citizens, the Council of Ministers approved by Royal Decree on June 21 the direct granting of subsidies worth 145 million euros. Today, the Council of Ministers has adopted the agreement authorizing this call for aid, which will be managed by the public company Red.es.

The aid will be intended to offset the costs derived from the reception or access to television audiovisual communication services in the buildings affected by the Second Digital Dividend. The subsidy amounts range between €104.3 and €677.95, depending on the previously installed infrastructure.
Information channels for citizens

Citizens will be able to consult all their questions on the website http://www.televisiondigital.es/, and on the telephone number 901 20 10 04 and on the toll-free number 954 30 65 01. As of August 2, the latter will be replaced by the toll-free telephone service line 910 889 881.