Warning over 4G and TV interference

The digital television signal for hundreds of thousands of UK homes will be affected by interference from new 4G mobile networks when they come online in 2013, the telecoms regulator has warned.

Ofcom said that mobile operators should bear the estimated £100m costs of mitigating the interference, after they bid for new 4G spectrum early next year. It estimates that about 3 per cent of digital terrestrial television viewers – around 760,000 homes – will be affected when the so-called “digital dividend” spectrum, previously used for analog broadcast, in the 800MHz range starts being used to transmit mobile phone calls and data in the next few years. The interference problem adds another complication to the process of the digital TV switchover, which is due to be completed in 2012. “It is an issue but it is not insurmountable,” said an Ofcom spokesperson. “There are plenty of mitigations to ensure everyone can continue watching TV.”