Ofcom will conduct a research program to figure out just how many people are likely to be affected. Currently, it puts the estimate at about 3 percent of people in the United Kingdom, but says using filters will solve the problem in most cases.
The problem has arisen becayse the chunk of spectrum reserved for 4G communications is next to that used for broadcasting digital terrestrial television. The 800MHz band is due to be auctioned off in 2012 and 4G services are expected to roll out in the country shortly after.
Signals from base stations might disrupt television viewing for as many as 760,000 people to some degree, Ofcom has warned. The regulator is considering running a public educational campaign to alert viewers that they may be affected, and how to deal with it if they are.
Firms that win licenses for the 800MHz spectrum will have to contribute to the cost of the campaign.
For the vast majority of affected viewers, filters should easily solve the problems, but in very very few cases, viewers may need to find alternative ways to watch digital TV.
Written by: James Delahunty @ 3 Jun 2011 14:45
