1. Releasing the potential of the
Digital Dividend – the Swedish solution
“Digital dividend opportunities” - Ghent University
Marianne Treschow
RSPG chair
Director-General
Swedish Post and
Telecom Agency (PTS)

2. RSPG on the Digital Dividend
• “…leaves an undecided but considerable amount of
spectrum in the relevant bands for more services
such as broadcasting or other electronic
communications services.” (RSPG04-55 2004)
• ”…there may be EU-wide benefits to the use of the
digital dividend by fixed/mobile applications
(including uplinks) in a harmonised sub-band of the
UHF band…” (RSPG07-161 2007)
2008-10-20

3. Soft harmonisation of the Digital
Dividend
• Member States – switchover and dividend
strategies
• Users of spectrum – business plans, economies
of scale
• Industry – equipment standardisation,
economies of scale
• End-users – access to services
2008-10-20

4. Swedish Broadband Survey 2007
xDSL Fiber-LAN Cable-tv HSPA CDMA 2000
2008-10-20

5. Mobile data traffic and number of mobile subscriptions with
active users of mobile data via plug-in card or USB modem
3 000 600
Thousands
Tbyte
2 500 500
2 000 400
1 500 300
1 000 200
Traffic for mobile data
services
500 100
Subscriptions via data
0 0 plug-in cards or USB-
modems
6 07 7
2 00 20 2 00
1h
2008-10-20

6. The 800 MHz band
• Digital dividend is the process
• In Sweden the result of that process is the
release of the 800 MHz band
• The 800 MHz band is the range 790 – 862 MHz
• A total of 72 MHz
2008-10-20

7. Digital switchover in Sweden
• Start of digital terrestrial TV services 1999
• Government Bill on switch-over and analogue
switch-off March 2003
• The Government has decided on transmission
rights for 5 multiplexers (approx.35 channels)
• Analogue transmissions closed down in stages,
discontinued by October 2007
• Government Decision 19 December 2007
2008-10-20

8. The decision and the path ahead
• The Government decision on December 19
• 790-862 MHz (the 800 MHz band) should be vacated
• a sixth multiplex should be established under 790 MHz
• a new multiplex should be established in band III
• PTS assignment to produce a plan
• Vacate the 800 MHz band
• New multiplex under 790 MHz
• New multiplex in band III
• Assignment to be reported to the Government
on December 15 at the latest
2008-10-20

9. Future work on the 800 MHz band in
Sweden
1. Plan to vacate the band
2. Harmonisation and spectrum arrangements
3. Award process
• Open invitation, service and technology neutral, tradable
• No official date for award, indication 2009-2010 timeframe
2008-10-20

10. Summary
• The Digital Dividend
is a unique
opportunity
• ”Soft harmonisation”
is needed
• The 800 MHz band
(790-862 MHz) is
likely to be the
European sub-band
Welcome to join the
800 MHz club!
2008-10-20