MEPs call for harmonisation of the 'digital dividend'
The European Parliament has called for frequencies freed-up by the switchover from analogue to digital TV to be used for new wireless services such as broadband internet or mobile TV, and for interoperability of these services across the EU.
In an 'own-initiative' report, drafted by Italian MEP Patrizia Toia on the use of the "digital dividend"—the spectrum released by the switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting—the MEPs call on the Commission to propose measures for better coordination of the use of the digital dividend at EU level.
The basis of the report is that Member States, together with the Commission, should identify 'common spectrum sub-bands of the digital dividend for different application clusters' that could be 'harmonised on a technology-neutral basis'. The Parliament said it supported the idea of dividing the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) spectrum into clusters for uni-directional services such as fixed or mobile broadcasting and other mobile multimedia services and for bi-directional services such as wireless broadband.
Parliament adopted an amendment calling on Member States to reallocate part of the spectrum currently used for military purposes under analogue technology after the switchover to new civilian applications.
The report was adopted with 551 votes in favour 24 against and 38 abstentions.
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