The French law of 5 March 2007 regarding the modernisation of the television broadcasting envisaged the completion of the switch-over to digital television broadcasting (and the switch-off of analogue broadcasting) no later than 30 November 2011.
This digital switch-over (DSO) will allow a large portion of ultra-high frequency (UHF) spectrum to be released for use for other applications and technologies. These UHF frequencies, located in the lower part of the radio spectrum (below 1GHz), allow the use of technologies with unique coverage, penetration and propagation qualities. The benefits accrued from the release and reuse of this spectrum is known as the ‘digital dividend’.
These frequencies will not only improve the quality of existing services, but will also allow the launch of new services. The digital dividend therefore represents a unique opportunity for France to maximise the social, cultural and economic benefits associated with the use of those frequencies.
This raises the question of what is the most efficient use that France can make of the spectrum released by the DSO.
A significant new study carried out by Analysys Consulting Ltd and Hogan & Hartson contributes to answer this question by examining the French parliament’s approach from an international perspective, by learning from the experience of other markets and undertaking an economic valuation of the digital dividend according to its use. More specifically, this study answered the question whether allocating a share of the digital dividend to the electronic communication services is more efficient for the nation than allocating the digital dividend exclusively to broadcasting services. This study also analysed whether sharing the digital-dividend spectrum between the electronic communication services and the audiovisual services penalises existing audiovisual services, or if it represents a mutually beneficial solution for both sectors.
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Report Summary
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