Several countries in the region are well advanced in the switchover process whereas others are still in the planning phase. Slovenia is planning to switchover simultaneously nationwide, while other countries will take a region by region approach. But regardless of the switchover strategy the process is often challenged by certain problems relating to the public awareness campaign or difficult coordination of the frequency spectrum in the transition period, particularly in the case of securing spectrum for local and regional TV channels.
Slovenia (Simultaneous switch off), Directorate for information society
Croatia (Lessons learned from the region by region approach), Ivana Andrijašević, eCroatia; Daniel Vidaković, Croatian Post and electronic Communications Agency
Serbia (Introducing DVB-T2), dr. Irini Reljin, Ministry for Telecommunications and Information Society of Serbia
Austria (Completed switchover with some small analogue transmitters still in operation), Jakob Gschiel, Austrian Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and Telecommunications
12:00 – 13:30 Lunch
13:30 – 15:30 Session Two: LEGISLATION Moderator: Tina Čuček
Licensing of television channels for digital terrestrial broadcasting varies from country to country. Approaches range from restrictive models, resulting in the prevention of development of new digital content enabled by the flexibility of the new broadcasting technology which allows the simple addition of new channels to existing DTT multiplexes; to a more liberal approach allowing to use multiplexes in more innovative way. Therefore the programme licensing regime has a strong influence on the amount of spectrum use in particular countries.
Italy, Vincenzo Lobianco, AGCOM
Slovenija, Tanja Kerševan Smokvina, Post and Electronic Communication Agency of Slovenia
Croatia, Damir Hajduk, The Electronic Media Council/ELECTRONIC MEDIA AGENCY
Hungary, Zsolt Kozma, National Media and Infocommunications Authority
Implementation of DTT networks is, to a certain extent, a challenge to the network operators who alongside various new technical issues are faced with the problems of “pre-echo” and synchronisation of the single frequency networks either via the GPS system or by the synchronisation over the backbone network. In addition the dilemma of transition from DVB-T to DVB-T2 is becoming an important topic.
Reliability of DTT networks, Frank Brown, ARQIVA
Synchronisation of DTT networks, Frode Gautvik, Norkring
Lessons learned, RTV Slovenia [TBD]
Experiences with Conformance Assessment of DVB-T receivers in Slovenia, dr. Roman Kužnar, Sintesio
Availability of DVB-T services and the importance of SLA, Rolf Ollmar, BRIDGE Technologies Co.AS
19:00 Dinner
Day 2, Friday October 22nd
9:00 – 11:00 Session Four: DIGITAL DIVIDEND Moderator: Alojz Hudobivnik
Digital dividend may reduce the digital divide in society, namely by reducing the gap between people having access to the Internet and those who do not. Frequencies released after analogue switchover can be used for wireless access to the internet in rural areas where there is successful coordination between neighbouring countries. But even if countries agree on such use of the dividend some challenges remain, such as how this part of the spectrum can be used in small countries with short border lines, many neighbours and consequently substantial cross border influence.
Mobile operator view, Matjaž Beričič, Peter Zidar, MOBITEL, GSMA
Regulatory issues, Miha Krišelj, Post and Electronic Communication Agency of Slovenia
Digital divide, Directorate for the information society [TBD]
Balancing mobile and broadcasting, Daniel Sauvet-Goichon, Chairman of DigiTAG (Digital Terrestrial Group)
Introductionary peper:
DVB-T within the emerging new TV services: a prerequisite or an anachronism – Urban Burnik, Matej Zajc, Janez Zaletelj, Jurij F. Tasič, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering
12:45 – 14:00 Lunch 14:00 – 17:00 Social Event: Guided Tour of Ljubljana
