13246_CAI_Feedback_Mar2018_COMPLETE_v1

Consumer demand for mobile data has never been greater and is expected to continue to grow significantly over the next decade. To cope with this increasing demand, an additional section of the airwaves – known as ‘the 700 MHz band’ – is being made available for future mobile broadband use. Opening up the 700 MHz band will allow mobile networks to provide new and better services to help meet the rapidly growing demand for mobile data. In November 2014, Ofcom announced that it would reallocate some of the airwaves used by Freeview to mobile services. A similar process is being carried out across Europe, as spectrum is reassigned to meet a predicted increase in demand for mobile data. As a result, some Freeview channels will need to move to new frequencies. This process is known as 700 MHz clearance. Clearance takes place region by region, with this project expected to run until mid-2020. The required TV frequency changes are made overnight at the larger transmitters, usually from midnight on the planned day of the clearance event at each transmitter site. TV services are normally restored by 6 am on the morning of the clearance day at main stations. Work at smaller relays may continue until later in the day. As some channels will need to move to new frequencies, group C/D aerials are less likely to pick up frequencies below 700 MHz. In addition, some viewers can find the manual retuning tricky without guidance. Therefore, the government has decided viewer support should be provided to viewers with their own household aerial during clearance. Following its successful ongoing support on the at800 programme, Campbell & Kennedy has been contracted by DMSL to provide aerial engineering support for DMSL as part of its Home Support Team that is working alongside Digital UK to provide viewer support. Campbell & Kennedy will be covering the central belt down to the Manchester area. Other companies appointed to this contract include Crystal and SCCI. Freeview and other digital terrestrial viewers will need to retune their TVs or set-top boxes when these changes happen in their area. A very small minority – estimated to be less than 1% of households – may need to replace their rooftop aerial to continue receiving services. Free advice and help with retuning is available for viewers from the Freeview Advice Line on freephone 0808 100 0288 and online at www.freeview.co.uk/tvchanges . Any viewers with queries should be directed here in the first instance. Those who rely on DTT and who are unable to restore the services affected after retuning may be eligible for free in-home support. Campbell & Kennedy were in attendance to provide remedial support on behalf of DMSL and Digital UK when the first 700 clearance event was carried out at the Selkirk Transmitter in March 2017. This event included a period where the services being changed were simulcast on different channels and then finally swapped 700 MHz clearance programme now underway TomCarnie, Technical Director at Campbell & Kennedy 67 CAI Feedback Spring 2018