More spectrum could be released by digital TV switchover

With regional South Australia set to switchover to digital TV by the end of this year it is hoped that the process will free up enough spectrum to make improvements in other areas such as with high speed broadband.

Many consumers and businesses in Australia are keen to see improvements made to services such as high speed broadband access and improved mobile broadband networks, but this is something that Australia – and other countries – is finding it difficult to do because of lack of spectrum. Different countries are looking at various ways to release more spectrum, and companies such as mobile broadband providers are keen to see something done so that they can improve their own services.

It has been announced recently by Stephen Conroy, the Minister for Broadband, Communication, and the Digital Economy that on 15th December this year regional South Australia and Broken Hill would be switching to digital only television. He said that the aim was to complete the digital switchover across Australia by 2013.

Conroy said: “The switchover to digital TV in the Spencer Gulf, Riverland, Mt Gambier and southeast South Australia, and Broken Hill regions is part of the progressive switchover to digital TV around Australia by 2013.

Already 64 per cent of households in these regions have converted to digital TV, which is more than the Australia-wide conversion rate of 61 per cent by the end of 2009. Digital switchover will deliver more choice and content, better picture and sound quality and free up spectrum which can be used for the delivery of new and improved broadcasting and communications services, such as high speed broadband. A new satellite service will provide all free-to-air digital television services to viewers who are in regional blackspot and remote areas, allowing them to receive the same number of channels as city residents, as well as local news.”

Source – Minister.DBCDE.Gov.AU