2013 Possible Problem

In 2013, a part of the tv transmission spectrum that was used by analogue TV will be auctioned off to mobile phone operators to use for the next generation of mobile Internet services, known as 4G. This will allow for an increase in data speeds on the mobile phone network, in order to make internet access by mobile phone much quicker. The problem is that many TV aerials do a good job of picking up signals in that band and, if those signals are amplified by a signal booster, the interference from neighbouring 4G base stations could overload the tuners in Freeview TV sets and set-top boxes.

The part of the transmission spectrum to be so used is channels 61 to 68. These are well beyond those used by the Rowridge transmitter but they are part of the current Mendip transmitter range of digital channels. Some change to the channels used by Mendip will be necessary by 2013, therefore. Anyone who receives from Mendip and who has an aerial amplifier should watch out for possible problems once this new 4G service starts up within the area in which they live.

If a problem does occur, there will, by then, be an Ofcom contact to whom to report the problem. A filter can be inserted between the aerial lead and the tv/set-top box. The current recommendation is that the phone operators foot the bill for this. That filter may not be effective, however, for anyone living very near to a 4G telephone transmitter. In such an instance, either cable or satellite is the only currently foreseen answer, but who pays for that is not yet clear.

For anyone interested in following this up further, here is a link.