A major study on broadcast-broadband convergence has been published by the European Commission. The study on ‘Challenges and opportunities of broadcast-broadband convergence and its impact on spectrum and network use’ was carried out by Plum Consulting and Farncombe, and considers three questions:
- How will audio-visual (AV) consumption in the European Union change over the next 15 years?
- How will broadcast-broadband services develop in that period?
- Is there merit in moving to a converged platform in which mobile and terrestrial TV broadcast services share common infrastructure and UHF spectrum?
The focus of the study was on a possible introduction of a converged platform in the sub-700 MHz spectrum currently used for terrestrial TV services.
The study report assessed a number of issues related to trends in audiovisual consumption, technology and service developments, and identified options for a converged platform. It also carried out a cost-benefit analysis.
The EBU engaged with the study team, in particular, during the fact-finding phase of the study.
The main conclusion is that the economic case for a converged platform is not yet made as the incremental benefits of such a converged platform are uncertain when compared to the incremental costs of transition.
However, the study team expects that much of the market uncertainty will be removed in the next three to five years and recommends a later review of the case for the converged platform.
The study is a significant contribution to the ongoing discussion of the future use of the UHF band, in particular in the context of the preparations for the ITU World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-15) that will take place in November next year.
The European Commission will assess the outcome of the study in the context of EU level audio-visual and broadband policies and, in particular, regarding the long-term strategy for the future use of the UHF band (470-790 MHz).
Further information and the study report are available here.