The BBC, ITV and Channel 4 have criticised Ofcom‘s proposals to tap into “white spaces” of TV spectrum to launch new wireless services, arguing that errors in its plan could disrupt viewing in potentially millions of Freeview households.
Ofcom intends to use the so-called gaps in the spectrum used to broadcast digital terrestrial TV service Freeview to 19m homes across the UK for a range of potential wireless services.
In October Ofcom announced a pilot involving 20 companies – including Google, Microsoft and BT – to trial a variety of potential uses for the white space spectrum, including rural broadband, transmitting data on traffic congestion and creating a “smart city” of Wi-Fi hubs in Glasgow.
Industry body Digital UK, which is owned by the BBC, Channel 4 and Arqiva, on Friday submitted a response to Ofcom’s consultation on how to technically achieve using the white space.
The 22-page response is highly critical of Ofcom’s technical plans, pointing out “errors” that have led the consortium of broadcasters to have serious concerns that reception in Freeview households could be affected.
TV white space issues: From Theory to Application 