On Thursday July 19, TDF technicians will be working on the three complementary network sites in the towns of Dieppe, Fécamp, Eu and Mers-les-Bains, as part of the digital terrestrial television (DTT) frequency upgrades.
Following frequency rearrangements in the 700 MHz band in the United Kingdom, TDF has to intervene on its own frequencies to avoid any interference. This is a preventive operation, designed to ensure continuity of service for viewers in the region. Because of their geographical location, these coastal towns are covered by both French and English frequencies, thanks in particular to the main transmitter at Heathfield (England - Sussex).
The area concerned by this phase of reorganization covers 54,600 inhabitants around the towns of Dieppe, Fécamp, Eu and Mers-les-Bains (Seine-Maritime and Somme departments).
As this early operation concerns only three broadcasting sites, these departments will once again be involved, along with the rest of the network's sites and frequencies, in phase 12 of the 700 MHz band's reorganization, which will take place in May 2019.
An operation of precision and expertise
Operations will take place between 8am and 12pm on Thursday July 19 at the three TDF network sites.
Broadcasting of all DTT channels will be stopped from 8am. The refurbished transmitters will be switched back on around 12 noon.
From Thursday afternoon, households in this area will have to perform an automatic channel scan to continue receiving all DTT channels.
The work will mainly involve changing the multiplexing cell and modifying the transmission configuration. On this occasion, TDF will modify three frequencies.
The international context of this operation makes it delicate: the adjustments will be made in relation to foreign frequencies, requiring cross-border coordination. Interventions thus require expert know-how and precision. TDF technicians are mobilized before and on D-day to restore digital terrestrial television broadcasting as quickly as possible, to ensure continuity of service.
A supervision unit has been set up to closely monitor the entire system at the three TDF sites concerned.
New frequencies for European mobile operators
The reorganization of frequencies in the 700 MHz band is a move supported by the European Council. By June 30, 2020, mobile operators will have exclusive access to the frequencies currently allocated to DTT, with a view to providing better mobile coverage across Europe and fostering the deployment of 5G. Each EU member country has drawn up its own national implementation plan.
France is leading the way, with an action plan adopted back in 2016 and the start of the transfer of 3,400 DTT frequencies in October 2017. Thirteen phases of reorganization will take place between now and June 2019.
New Aquitaine, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur, part of Occitanie, western Pays de la Loire, Grand Est, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and eastern Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes have already undergone DTT upgrades, as did the Île-de-France region in April 2016, at the time of the switchover to High Definition DTT. In each phase, the work was carried out successfully. This transfer of frequencies has enabled mobile operators to roll out their 4G networks in the 700 MHz band.
DTT: number one in television broadcasting
Digital terrestrial television remains the leading mode of television reception in France, with 68% of households using it. The DTT platform covers 97% of the population.