JPL's Wireless Communication Reference Website

Chapter: Network Concepts and Standards
Section: Broadcast Systems


Newsflash from July 1995

DAB planning meeting has developed a plan for the introduction of

Terrestrial Digital Broadcasting

From H. Kussmann, Delegate at the CEPT T-DAB Planning Meeting at Wiesbaden, Germany

After three weeks of intense activity, the delegations of 35 European countries concluded today in Wiesbaden, Germany an agreement known as the "Special Arrangement" which includes a Plan to provide radio frequencies for the introduction of terrestrial Digital Audio Broadcasting (T-DAB) in their territories.

The Planning Meeting was convened by the European Conference of Postal and telecommunications Administrations (CEPT), the 42 member country regional regulatory telecommunication organisation for Europe. Opened by German State Secretary Mr. Gerhard O. Pfeffermann on 3 July, the Planning Meeting was chaired by Mr. Eberhard George (Germany).

The Planning Meeting comprised four main committees, the Budget Control Committee was chaired by Mr. Henning Anderson (Denmark) and the Planning Committee was chaired by Mr. Manfred Maegele (Germany). The chairman of the committee which prepared the "Special Arrangement" was Mr. Terry Jeacock (United Kingdom) whilst the committee responsible for the alignment of the "Special Arrangement" in the three CEPT languages (English, French and German) was chaired by Mrs. Mireille Garnier (France).

T-DAB networks using the European developed EUREKA 147 technology will provide very high quality sound broadcasting to radio receivers installed in the home or in vehicles and also to portable receiving equipment. T-DAB signals will originate from landbased transmitters allowing the delivery of a new range of services which will offer considerable opportunities for programme makers and equipment manufacturers and suppliers.

The Planning Meeting was prepared by CEPT's European Radiocommunications Committee (ERC). Over 200 participants attended the Planning Meeting including representatives from six international and regional organisations such as the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), European Commission and the International Telecommunication Union. The computer planning tool was developed by the EBU and the ERC's European Radiocommunications Office (ERO). The Planning Meeting also determined that the ERO should become the Plan Management Body to handle any future modifications to the Plan.

759 requirements for frequencies were treated in the course of the Planning Meeting, the majority of these falling in frequency bands in the vicinity of 200 MHz and 1500 MHz. The agreed Plan provides a solution for almost all of these requirements with 62 % accommodated in the 1.5 GHz band. The remaining 38 % of requirements are contained in VHF bands with most being accommodated in the band 216 to 240 MHz. However some 40 % of the agreed frequencies, both at VHF and 1.5 GHz will be subject to further negotiations between administrations before they can be implemented for T-DAB. Particular difficulties arose in frequency bands identified for T-DAB which are used in some countries for other radio services which include television broadcasting, professional mobile radio (PMR), military fixed and mobile services (including aeronautical applications) and civil fixed links. Such problems underline the need for the various CEPT ERC initiatives designed to facilitate a common European usage of radio frequencies by the year 2008. The T-DAB "Special Arrangement" will enter into force on 1 January 1996.



JPL's Wireless Communication Reference Website.

Source: CEPT
This page is a reproduction the third and final press notice.