- The second dividend release process will end before June 30, 2020, complying with the European Union calendar.
- The current capabilities of the digital terrestrial television (DTT) service will be guaranteed.
- A cost compensation scheme is planned for adapting user reception facilities and updating broadcasting equipment for broadcasters.
The Ministry of Economy and Business has published the roadmap of the 700 MHz frequency band authorization process for the provision of wireless broadband electronic communications services. This has been prepared taking into account the contributions received in the public consultation on the process, held between November 28, 2017 and February 19, 2018, in which about one hundred contributions from interested parties were received.
The published roadmap plans to finalize the 700 MHz band release process before June 30, 2020, in accordance with the timetable established in the Community regulations. The release of the 700 MHz band, known as the second digital dividend, is a European-wide process, which aims to ensure a coordinated approach to the use of this band in the European Union, which will be key to the provision of 5G services and the extension of its coverage, particularly in rural areas, ensuring access and connectivity.
Among the most relevant milestones of the calendar contained in the roadmap are the approval of various regulatory instruments before the end of 2018. Among others, the approval of a new National Technical Plan for Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), in the that it is expected to maintain the current capabilities of said service. The Plan will be designed with the objective of maintaining the number of national and regional multiples and, consequently, the current offer of television channels and territorial disconnection capabilities. Likewise, guarantees of availability, at least until 2030, of the frequency band of 470-694 MHz for the provision of such services will be included in the Plan.
According to the road map, the objective is to approve before the end of the year the compensation regime for the adaptation of the reception facilities of the buildings to the new frequencies and to compensate for the necessary changes in the transmission equipment of broadcasters, compatible with the applicable community regime.
The effective process of migration of DTT services from frequencies that use the 700 MHz band to the new planned frequencies is expected to take place between January 2019 and March 2020.
The publication of the release roadmap of the second digital dividend gives continuity to the measures contemplated in the 5G National Plan (2018-2020). The objective of the 5G National Plan is to place our country among the most advanced in the development of this new technology, so that when 5G reaches its technological and commercial maturity, Spain is prepared to take full advantage of the opportunities of this technological paradigm. Within the execution of this Plan, the bidding of the 700 MHz band will be developed in the future for its effective use in 5G services, it being estimated that licenses will be awarded before June 30, 2020.
