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ITU-D Study Groups Question 2/1 Terms of Reference

    Statement of the situation or prob​​lem

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  • ​​​1.1 The migration to digital broadcasting technologies has been completed in some countries, while others are in the process of completing the transition. The Final Reports of last study periods indicate that the transition results in a variety of strategies, plans and implementation actions that achieve a successful process to maximize the benefits.
  • 1.2 The ITU Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D) can continue playing a role in helping Member States evaluate the technical and economic issues involved in the transition to digital technologies and services. On these matters, ITU-D has been collaborating closely with both the ITU Radiocommunication (ITU-R) and the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T), thus avoiding duplication.
  • 1.3 ITU had been working to analyse and identify best practices for the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. It is important to emphasize the report on ITU-D Question 11-3/2 of the 2010-2014 study period, which identifies public policies that should be applied as means for countries to be able to start the digital transition.
  • 1.4 It is also important to mention the Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Switchover (DSO) database, which contains information on relevant events (e.g. workshops, frequency coordination meetings and seminars), publications (e.g. ITU-R and ITU-D, roadmaps and workshop presentations), websites (e.g. ITU-R and ITU-D, GE06), contacts and sources of information.
  • 1.5 In this context, the reports from the last study periods presented best practices that accelerate the transition and narrow the digital divide by deploying new services, communication strategies for public awareness on digital broadcasting, and radio spectrum issues related to the analogue switch-off process, among other case studies.
  • 1.6 It is also important to acknowledge the relationship between different environments, notably broadcasting and broadband, and the necessity to treat broadcasting in a more general manner and consider the relationship among the various networks which deliver audiovisual content.
  • 1.7 Moreover, the broadcasting arena is changing and the offers to users are evolving. New experiences in accessing audiovisual content are being provided, and one of the consequences of these new offers is that users no longer have only the traditional media services/applications. They are instead starting to experience different ways of watching audiovisual content in their broadcasting services.
  • 1.8 Therefore, to implement new broadcasting technologies, services and applications in this new environment, which seems to be heading towards a global media strategy for service providers and not restricting the service offers to the traditional broadcasting market, it seems Page 347 that consolidation, co-investment and infrastructure sharing are key trends to reduce costs and allow massive investments in network deployment and content delivery.
  • 1.9 Bearing that in mind, it is beneficial to study broadcasting as a key infrastructure for delivering innovative applications and services when combined with other networks and service platforms. Additionally, it is important to consider these interactions from the regulatory, economic and technical points of view, so as to leverage the strengths of each network for the benefit of the users and to make available a more diverse range of services.
  • 1.10 There have been developments of broadcasting systems using IP throughout the broadcasting chain, including the production, contribution and transmission parts, and these developments of IP-based technologies in these parts are progressing quite quickly.
  • 1.11 Taking into account possible innovations for broadcasting in the UHF band, proposed by new systems like 5G Broadcast, ATSC3.0 and the expected new Brazilian second-generation system, and also with the use of VHF Band III for DAB or DTT, this could lead to new forms of broadcasting services and applications.
  • 1.12 The use of the "digital dividend" is an important issue, and continues to be widely debated by broadcasters and operators of telecommunication and other services operating in the same frequency bands. The role of the regulatory authorities in this regard is crucial to balancing the interests of users with the demands of growth in all branches of the industry. Furthermore, it appears that the availability of the digital dividend and its effective usage, for example, to bridge the digital divide and to provide new innovative broadcasting applications and services, is still a priority that needs to be addressed.
  • 1.13 Other issues to consider are the studies from other ITU Sectors, especially taking into account the decisions of the World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC-15 and WRC-19) on exploiting the digital dividend in the future. In this regard, it is relevant to consider maintaining study topics related to technical and economic aspects involved in the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.
  • 1.14 Finally, another important issue for the future of broadcasting is the emergence of new broadcasting technologies and standards that could be taken into account when developing countries1 are implementing the digital television transition. At the same time, traditional broadcasting services, with or without the interaction with other platforms and networks, should also be considered.​

    Question o​​r issue for study

    ​The Question will continue to cover the topics in the scope of possible revision of the Question 2/1 Final Report for the ITU-D study period 2018-2021, and new topics targeted at new deliverables for the ITU-D study period 2022-2025, as appropriate. Studies under the Question will focus on the following issues:​
  • 2.1 Analysis of methods and issues for the transition from traditional digital broadcasting (sound and television) to video-centric converged service provisioning, including the deployment of new services and applications, such as UHDTV, AR/VR, interactive applications, for consumers/viewers in various environments (in possible collaboration with Question 2/2).
  • 2.2 Analysis of the effects for public broadcasting services in the developing countries of the rapid growth of traditional and online linear TV and video-on-demand subscription services.
  • 2.3 National experiences on strategies for the introduction of new broadcasting technologies, emerging services and capabilities, including regulatory, economic and technical aspects, reflecting the need for massive investments to cope with the ever-growing demand for video content (in possible collaboration with Question 2/2 and Question 4/1, where appropriate).
  • 2.4 Analysis of the development of broadcasting systems using IP-based technologies throughout the broadcasting chain, including the production, contribution and transmission parts.
  • 2.5 Best practices and national experiences on spectrum-planning activities related to the implementation of video-centric converged service providers.
  • 2.6 National experiences on interference mitigation measures in the context of the transition scenarios.
  • 2.7 Analysis of the gradual transition to digital sound broadcasting, study cases, sharing of experiences and strategies implemented, including the use of VHF Band III for DAB or DTT.
  • 2.8 Analysis of possible innovations for broadcasting in the UHF band, proposed by new systems for broadcasting, such as 5G Broadcast, ATSC3.0 and other next-generation systems.
  • 2.9 Costs of the transition from traditional digital broadcasting (sound and television) to video-centric converged service providers, including sharing best practices of new innovative business models, derived from this transition, for the various players: broadcasters, operators, technology providers, Internet enterprises, manufacturers and distributors of receivers, and consumers, among others (in possible collaboration with Question 4/1 and Question 2/2).
  • 2.10 The use of the digital-dividend frequency bands resulting from the transition to terrestrial digital broadcasting (sound and television), including technical, regulatory and economic aspects, such as: a) status of the use of the digital-dividend frequency bands; b) sharing of the digital-dividend frequency bands; c) harmonization and cooperation at regional level; d) the role of the digital dividend in saving financing, cost savings on the transition to digital, and best experience and practice in this regard; e) use of the digital dividend to help bridge the digital divide, especially for the development of communication services for rural and remote areas; f) guidelines on the transition to digital sound broadcasting, focusing on the experiences of those countries that completed the process. ​

    Expected ​output​

    a) A report reflecting the studies outlined in §§ 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10 and 2.11 above, and possible revisions to the Report of the previous study period, as appropriate. b) Periodic dissemination of relevant data emanating from the organizations and groups listed in § 7 below. Periodic updates on studies taking place in the other ITU Sectors. c) National experiences on strategies and socio-economic aspects of the introduction of new broadcasting technologies, services and capabilities. ​

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