Hakom - Croatian Post and Electronic Communications Agency

By signing the agreement on the allocation of radio spectrum, the Republic of Croatia has fulfilled its obligation to the European Commission and it is ready to wait for further activities for the allocation of   "Second digital dividend".
 
Zagreb, December 14, 2017 – In the recent years the technology development has brought a new and more efficient digital TV system DVB-T2 as well as a new and more efficient coding system H.265 / HEVC. In order to enable economical transmission of high definition television content ("HD") in terrestrial networks and facilitate the development of new services, it is necessary to switch to a more efficient DVB-T2 system with H.265 / HEVC video encoding. The DVB-T2 system with comparable reception conditions offers greater flexibility and up to 50% higher transmission capacity compared to the DVB-T system. By means of introducing new standards it is possible to use the radio frequency spectrum more efficiently and take advantage of a smaller spectrum to transmit existing channels or improve their quality, thus releasing the radio frequency spectrum of second digital  dividends for services in mobile networks.
 
The ever increasing demands of broadband Internet access users in the larger area require ever greater amounts of spectrum, which is naturally limited. Taking into consideration propagation characteristics (characteristics of spreading radio frequency signals) and economic cost-effectiveness, the most suitable radio frequency spectrum for broadband access is the bandwidth of about 1 GHz for coverage of larger areas and frequency bands 2-5 GHz for additional capacities in urban, densely populated areas . These frequency ranges have already been used for various other radio communication services and their conversion can only be achieved by optimizing existing systems, in this case digital television, which in practice means switching the entire system to DVB-T2 technology with the H.265 / HEVC coding system.
In order to complete the transition process as smoothly as possible and harmonized, the draft of the Digital Terrestrial Television Switchover Strategy to the DVB-T2 system and the 700 MHz bandwidth will be in the process of defining a specific timeline for switching to DVB- T2 with H.265 / HEVC encoding. The DVB-T2 - H.265 / HEVC system is expected to broadcast high-definition content ("HD") to all national coverage programs.
 
In July this year, HAKOM published the „Recommendation on minimum receiver technical requirements for the reception of DVB-T and DVB-T2signal in the Republic of Croatia which represents the minimum technical requirements DVB-T2 receivers need to satisfy in order to ensure high quality in the Republic of Croatia services of digital terrestrial television available for public acceptance.
 
The transition to the DVB-T2 standard is expected after the expiration of the existing permits for multiplex digital terrestrial television starting  in 2019. In the period 2019-2021, citizens will need to adapt their reception equipment to the new standard (the so-called STB- Set Top Box devices). When selecting a new TV / receiver, it will be important to support the DVB-T2 system and H.265 / HEVC coding system and comply with the Recommendation. If citizens are buying a new TV receiver in the meantime, which is not necessary before changing standards in the period 2019-2021, it is advisable to pay attention to the standard to avoid additional costs or receivers in the future.
 
The completion of the second digital dividend allocation for services in mobile communications networks in most EU Member States is expected by June 30, 2020. The publication of the Recommendation is one of the pre-conditions for marking a DVB-T2 receiver with a special logo which will guarantee compliance with the broadcasting standard in Croatia and make it easier for consumers to buy. The choice of the logo, as well as the prescribing of the receiver certification process for the Croatian market, is planned in 2018.
 
In order to ensure all the preconditions for moving to a new standard, it is necessary to harmonize the technical parameters of the specific transmitters at the international level as well. Due to the geographic position and the relief of the Republic of Croatia, international harmonization is carried out primarily with Austria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Italy, Hungary, Slovenia and Serbia. The replacement of the 470-790 MHz frequency band using the digital television, and the 694-790 MHz bandwidth for mobile networks in Europe has started to be negotiated at the level of regional groups (10 neighbouring countries). The Republic of Croatia participated in two groups: