Digital Dividend

The digital dividend is the name given to spectrum that comes available after analogue television is digitized. This spectrum comes available because digital television transmission uses the spectrum more efficient than analogue television transmission.

The digital dividend can be used for different purposes, such as:

• Broadcasting
  • Higher number of programmes
  • increased coverage
  • Local television
  • High definition television
  • Mobile television
  • Data broadcasting,
  • Enhanced TV
• Electronic communications
  • Mobile telecommunications (UMTS500)
  • Broadband access to scarcely populated areas (IEEE 802.22 WRAN)
  • Services Ancillary to broadcasting, which already coexist with broadcasting
  • Low power devices
  • Private mobile radio
  • Military communications
  • Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR)

The digital dividend can be found in the broadcasting bands I (47-68 MHz), band III (174-230 MHz) and bands IV and V (470-862 MHz). Although the most attention goes to the UHF bands IV and V. It is expected to be fully available throughout Europe only after complete switchoff of analogue television. The objective for the European Union for the switchoff is 2012, and 2015 is the deadline from the ITU Geneva 2006 agreement (GE-06) for the protection of analogue television. Although some countries have announced to continue analogue broadcasting after that date.