According to the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association, it is such a big disappointment that communications minister Paul Fletcher could not commit to a “definite timetable and pathway for a digital dividend in the 600MHz band.”

These comments were made yesterday after the federal government released a media policy statement concluding a process started last November 2020 with the release of the Media Reform Green Paper.

Some of the potential reforms included in the paper were tax and regulatory relief for broadcasters in exchange for moving to shared multiplexes. This was intended to free up the spectrum for a second digital dividend.

According to the paper, if broadcasters opted-in to the proposed licence arrangements, completing the re-farming by the mid-2020s was possible. However, this timeline drew objections from the broadcast TV sector. The latter suggested a late 2020s timeframe because this would be less disruptive. 

“AMTA previously supported the government’s proposal to free up to 84MHz of spectrum within the 600MHz band, with a likely auction to have been held in 2025, as low band spectrum is critically needed to provide the coverage layer for 5G,” an AMTA spokesperson said.

“Without a definite timetable and pathway, mobile network operators will likely be hindered in their ability to continue the roll-out of 5G in a timely manner to meet the ever-growing consumer demand for mobile services,” the spokesperson further added.

“AMTA remains strongly committed to working collaboratively with the broadcast industry to achieve a sound technical solution that allows TV to evolve, while simultaneously freeing up spectrum as soon as practicable to be reallocated for 5G. Government support for this transition pathway remains critical.”

When it comes to the future of broadcast, communications minister Paul Fletcher said “As well as a number of specific actions the government is taking now, we are setting out the next steps for the government to work with the broadcast television sector on a future regulatory structure that is optimised for the technology changes the sector faces.”

One of the key measures included in the new policy statement is establishing a government and industry Future of Broadcasting Working Group that will be charged with informing the “development of a pathway to modernise free-to-air television services.”

According to the policy statement, the complexity of changes to the broadcast spectrum and potential impacts on industry and consumers. Nevertheless, it added: “this does not mean that change should not be pursued where it delivers net benefits for industry and enhances the value of television services for consumers.”