Spectrum Reallocation in the

700 MHz “Digital Dividend” Band

Yielding the Digital Dividend
Giles Tanner
General Manager
Digital Transition Division
 The VHF and UHF Spectrum used by TV

Source: http://agencysearch.australia.gov.au/search/search.cgi?query=radiofrequency+allocations+chart&collection=agencies&form=simple&profile=acma
 Analog channels
Newcastle, Sydney, Illawarra
45-52 MHz 137-144 MHz
56-70 MHz 85-108 MHz 174-230 MHz 526-582 MHz 582-820 MHz

BI BII BIII BIV BV

Newcastle

Central Coast
Sydney

Illawarra

Others

KEY Analog channels

 Current Analog & Digital channels during simulcast
Newcastle, Sydney, Illawarra
45-52 MHz 137-144 MHz
56-70 MHz 85-108 MHz 174-230 MHz 526-582 MHz 582-820 MHz

BI BII BIII BIV BV

Newcastle

Central Coast
Sydney

Illawarra

Others

KEY Analog channels Digital channels

 Timetable for Analog switch off
Second
First
2010
Half- 2013
2010
2011
2012

KEY
First Half
2010

Second Half
2010

First Half
2011

Second Half
2011

First Half
2012

Second Half
2012

First Half
2013

Second Half
2013

http://agencysearch.australia.gov.au/search/search.cgi?query=radiofrequency+allocations+chart&collection=agencies&form=simple&profile=acma
 All Australians will be able to receive digital
television wherever they live.

KEY
First Half
2010

Second Half
2010

First Half
2011

Second Half
2011

First Half
2012

Second Half
2012

First Half
2013

Second Half
2013

Satellite

http://agencysearch.australia.gov.au/search/search.cgi?query=radiofrequency+allocations+chart&collection=agencies&form=simple&profile=acma
 Current Analog & Digital channels during simulcast
Newcastle, Sydney, Illawarra
45-52 MHz 137-144 MHz
56-70 MHz 85-108 MHz 174-230 MHz 526-582 MHz 582-820 MHz

BI BII BIII BIV BV

Newcastle

Central Coast
Sydney

Illawarra

Others

KEY Analog channels Digital channels

 Digital channels after Analog switch off
Newcastle, Sydney, Illawarra
45-52 MHz 137-144 MHz
56-70 MHz 85-108 MHz 174-230 MHz 526-582 MHz 582-820 MHz

BI BII BIII BIV BV

Newcastle

Central Coast
Sydney

Illawarra

Others

KEY Digital channels

 Restacking spectrum to create digital dividend
A single block at the top of the UHF band
45-52 MHz 137-144 MHz
56-70 MHz 85-108 MHz 174-230 MHz 526-582 MHz 582-820 MHz

BI BII * BIII BIV BV

Newcastle

Central Coast
Sydney 18 channels

Illawarra

Others

KEY Freed up spectrum Digital Channels

 6 channel block
Newcastle, Sydney, Illawarra
45-52 MHz 137-144 MHz
56-70 MHz 85-108 MHz 174-230 MHz 526-582 MHz 582-820 MHz

BI BII BIII BIV BV

Newcastle

Central Coast
Sydney

Illawarra

Block A Block B Block C Block D Block E

KEY DAB + Digital Channels

 Minimum moves
Newcastle, Sydney, Illawarra
45-52 MHz 137-144 MHz
56-70 MHz 85-108 MHz 174-230 MHz 526-582 MHz 582-820 MHz

BI BII BIII BIV BV

Newcastle

Central Coast
Sydney

Illawarra

KEY DAB + Digital Channels

 Configuration
Australia’s
of the Digital Dividend

Source: http://agencysearch.australia.gov.au/search/search.cgi?query=radiofrequency+allocations+chart&collection=agencies&form=simple&profile=acma
 Configuration
Australia’s
of the Digital Dividend

694 MHz 820 MHz

4 MHz

126 MHZ 14 MHz

698 MHz 806 MHz

Common international dividend range

Australian Digital Dividend

Source: http://agencysearch.australia.gov.au/search/search.cgi?query=radiofrequency+allocations+chart&collection=agencies&form=simple&profile=acma
 Yielding the Digital Dividend:
The Restack and Reallocation Processes
Restack
completed
Broadcasters relocate to new
digital TV channels
Broadcasters start to plan
infrastructure & new equipment
Analog switch off
Digital TV restack planning
Restack legislative
amendments

Mid 2012 Mid 2013 End 2014

2009 2010 2011 2012End 2013 2014
Start 2010 2013

Digital Dividend
Green Paper Recom’
to Minister
Minister’s media release Ministerial
Declaration
Ministerial Direction
Discussion Paper Allocation Instruments Issue Licences
Spectrum Spectrum
Technical Framework Auction available
for use

KEY Minister ACMA Broadcasters DBCDE

 Yielding the Digital Dividend:
The spectrum reallocation process

Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
2010 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012

Technical Framework
Research Technical
and Framework
AWF Development

Reallocation Framework

Ministerial Discussion s153F s153B Allocation

Direction Paper Recommendation Declaration Instruments Auction

Auction Methodology
Development of
Auction method
auction rules

KEY Minister ACMA Public Consultation

 Yielding the Digital Dividend:
Where Are We Now?
Restack
completed
Broadcasters relocate to new
digital TV channels
Broadcasters start to plan
infrastructure & new equipment
Analog switch off
Digital TV restack planning
Restack legislative
amendments

Mid 2012 Mid 2013 End 2014

2009 2010 2011 2012End 2013 2014
Start 2010 2013

Digital Dividend
Green Paper Recom’
to Minister
Minister’s media release Ministerial
Declaration
Ministerial Direction
Discussion Paper Allocation Instruments Issue Licences
Spectrum Spectrum
Technical Framework Auction available
for use

KEY Minister ACMA Broadcasters DBCDE

Yielding the Digital Dividend
Giles Tanner
General Manager
Digital Transition Division