Study on the use of the sub-700 MHz band (470-694 MHz) : final report

This study assesses the current state and the future trends of the use of the sub-700 MHz UHF band (470-694 MHz) within the European Union, and third countries around the world. In particular, the study investigates: - technological developments and future trends within the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and Programme Making and Special Events (PMSE) sectors; - the evolution of consumer behaviour towards audio-visual (AV) consumption; - public service media (PSM) mission requirements; and - the current and future use of the sub-700 MHz band in third countries. The study considers the extent to which Member States are making use of the most recent DTT and PMSE technologies, and the degree to which there remains room for further improvement. It also documents Member States' opinions on the future use of the band, and the implications foreseen on the ability of DTT and PMSE to continue operating satisfactorily in the event of any significant changes. The study presents an analysis of the EU27 behaviour evolution in AV consumption. It provides data on the AV market in Europe and presents trends for linear TV and on-demand consumption and trends. It also examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on AV consumption in Europe. The study forecasts trends for 2025 and 2030 using different prediction models (including exponential smoothing and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average Model (ARIMA)). Following the consumer analysis, the study presents an analysis of public broadcasting services mission requirements. Finally, the study looks at the use of the sub-700 MHz band in non-EU countries, in particular focussing on the status of the introduction of a new mobile band at 600 MHz, and other uses (such as private mobile radio (PMR)) which occur, especially in Asia.