Freeview 4G Interference Not As Bad As First Feared

Tests in the West Midlands to determine the impact of Freeview 4G interference have revealed that fewer households than expected experienced signal disruption.

Using the brand at800, Digital Mobile Spectrum Ltd (DMSL) set up temporary 800MHz transmitters at Cradley Heath and Rowley Regis near Dudley and asked 22,000 households in the area to report any problems directly to them.

More than 100 calls were logged by at800 during March, but following investigations from professional aerial installers and TV signal experts from DMSL, BBC and Ofcom, it was determined that just 15 were caused by 4G – far less than the 120 that at800 had predicted.

Freeview 4G interference fears

All issues that could be attributed to 4G were in TV systems with signal amplifiers and were either in communal blocks or domestic installations where an amplifier was attached to the aerial. The problems were resolved by the installation of a filter between the aerial and the amplifier.

“This was a useful, small-scale, test. We’ll now improve our forecast model and look at the approach we use to tackle the issues we’ve seen,” said Simon Beresford-Wylie, chief executive of at800. “Further extensive evaluation will occur during April and May as masts are switched on for tests across larger urban areas.”

The results will ease fears that Digital Terrestrial Televison (DTT) signals will suffer when 4G services on the 800MHz spectrum are launched later this year. DTT currently operates on the adjacent 700MHz spectrum, which makes it susceptible to interference.

EE, the UK’s only current 4G operator, uses 1800MHz bandwidth for its network, which do not impact DTT. However all four major UK carriers won 800MHz spectrum in the recent Ofcom auction of 4G spectrum, with services set to go live later this year.

The DMSL was formed as a joint-venture by operators who expected to win the 800MHz frequencies and was appointed as the organisation responsible for resolving any DTT issues.

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