Strategic Decisions for Digital Dividend Allocation in France

1. Decisions on the allocation of the digital dividend in France François Rancy rancy@anfr.fr Presentation to RSPG 19 November 2008

2. Law of 5 March 2007 : Three inter-related undertakings 1. Extension of digital terrestrial television broadcating • Géographic extension of the 5 existing multiplexes (from 85% to 95% population coverage) • New multiplexes (HDTV, Mobile television) • Currently carried out on transitory frequencies 2. Digital switchover • Analog switchoff and DTT switch to target frequency plan • National switchover scheme by areas to be adopted by the Prime Minister • Detailed plan (area by area, program by program, transmiter by transmiter) to be definied by the boradcasting authority (CSA) 9 month at the latest prior to actual implementation in the area • Completion date of analog switchoff : 30 November 2011 3. Digital dividend • Defined as the spectrum released by analog switchoff • Digital dividend allocation scheme to be adopted by the Prime Minister for use by 1st December 2011 • After consulation of the Parliamentary committee on digital dividend • Majority of digital dividend for broadcasting

3. Switchover 95% population 85% population 21 Dec 2007 30 Nov 2011 Three inter-related undertakings Analog refarming Analog refarming Analog switchoff Digital dividend for broadcasting Digital dividend for mobile DTT extension Transitory frequency plan Target frequency Plan

4. Decembre 2008 : 281 DTT sites in service -  1 216 frequencies modified on 760 analog sites (4,5 millions people treated)

5. Report of the Parliamentary Committee (23 July 2008) www.dividende-numerique.fr • The majority of digital dividend should be allocated to enrich digital audiovisual services offering • The requirements of the audiovisual sector may be met in channels 21-60, which may accommodate 11 DVB-T networks and 2 DVB-H networks. • Future authorisations for HDTV DTT will need to be coupled with a significant content obligation for native HDTV. • Band III should be dedicated to digital sound broadcasting. • The band 790-862 MHz should be allocated entirely to electronic mobile communications • This allocation should be coupled with coverage obligations (99% of the territory), national roaming and net-neutrality obligations, and financing of the spectrum refarming operations necessary to make the band available (relocation of Defense and Broadcasting) c) The digital dividend should be used rapidly and effectively • The Prime Minister should take, by summer 2008, a joint decision on the digital dividend allocation scheme and the switchover scheme, in a consistent way. • The Prime Minister should give mandate to ANFR for negotiating with neighbouring countries the required changes to the GE-06 Plan. • France should promote a harmonised use of the band 790-862 MHz.

6. Decisions of the French government: France digital plan 201220 October 2008http://francenumerique2012.fr  Sucessfully carry out digital switchover by 2012: • Three initial experiments : Coulommiers, Kaysersberg and Cherbourg • Switchover in Alsace by end-2009, followed by Eastern regions (Lorraine, Champagne-Ardenne and Franche-Comté), • In parallel, switchover in Western regions (Basse-Normandie, Pays de la Loire and Bretagne) by first half of 2010. • Analog switchoff to be completed by 30 November 2011 • Allow all French population to receive digital programs and mobile television (encourage satellite service offerings)  Free spectrum resources for new broadcasting services: • The majority of the digital dividend is kept by broadcasting • To complete DTT deployment in UHF band by 30 November 2011, • Deploy new services : HDTV and Mobile television • Objective : 11 multiplexes for fixed DTT (95 % population) and 2 multiplexes for mobile television (70 % population). • Band III allocation to Broadcasting entirely maintained, to be used for sound broadcasting.

7. Decisions of the French government: France digital plan 2012 • Allocate the entire sub-band 790-862 MHz for the coverage of the French territory by new generation, very high speed, fixed and mobile networks • Study the potential use of “white spaces” of DTT broadcasting by other applications • Seek a coordinated approach of the digital dividend at European level

8. Digital dividend allocation in France Digital broadcasting - CSA ARCEP Déf 32 MHz 40 MHz 360 MHz 320 MHz

9. Digital dividend for broadcasting • Broadcasting retains 89% of its allocations in the UHF band and seeks for quasi doubling the number of multiplexes on air • Broadcasting retains 100% of its allocations in the VHF bands, for sound broadcasting only (T-DMB). • Adjustments of the GE-06 plan is therefore necessary to define the target frequency plan on which DTT is going to be transferred as switchover progressed throughout the territory. • This will require a reduction of the frequency reuse distance: • Optimised transmit antennas • Increased use of SFNs • Additional transmit sites to «wipe off » interference

10. Target plan “Core” Target plan Analog (5 programs) + additional multiplexes Transitory digital (6 multiplexes) Analog refarming The steps of transition to DTT Digital plan GE06 (7 mux) Digital plan GE06 (7 mux) The “sub-band”

11. International support activities • Negociate with neighbouring administrations, on an equitable basis, the frequency resources necessary for : • Updated broadcasting requirements : 11 MUX TNT and 2 MUX TMP • Switchover the 6 existing multiplexes at the dates foreseen in the national scheme, in the 470-790 MHz band • Permit the use of the band 790-862MHz by mobile services • Actively pursue a coordinated approach of the use of the sub-band 790-862 MHz throughout Europe.

12. Thank you for your attention