Space for 5G Broadcast as game changer for future terrestrial radio and television
Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) is a high-level advisory group that assists the European Commission in the development of radio spectrum policy. The RSPG workshop on the future of the 470–694 MHz band had a crucial meeting in April 2025 for the future of audiovisual services in Europe. Here the strategic value of terrestrial broadcasting and digital terrestrial television (DTT) was highlighted as an open, universal and accessible platform that ensures:
- Free and equal access to news, cultural and entertainment content
- Social and territorial cohesion, reaching where other platforms don’t
- Technological sovereignty and resilience in times of crisis
- A sustainable and energy-efficient model that supports pluralism and diversity
- An innovative platform developing UHD, HbbTV and 5G Broadcast.
The future of the UHF band is not only a technical issue—it’s also a matter of public interest and strategic importance. The organisation Broadcast Networks Europe stated it will keep working to defend its value and secure its continuity beyond 2030.
The value of DTT as critical infrastructure was also recognized in recent Germany’s Coalition Government Agreement between the political parties (CDU/CSU and SPD) confirms a clear commitment to protecting terrestrial broadcasting as critical infrastructure.
This political signal ensures that:
- Digital terrestrial radio and television broadcasting, including DVB-T2 and future 5G Broadcast, will continue to have access to the UHF spectrum.
- Cultural and event-related wireless production technologies remain safeguarded.
- Frequency policy decisions will not be taken unilaterally at national level, but instead coordinated at the European level.
Swedish broadcast provider Teracom confirms that reaching the entire population with important information is its mission - and it has never been more important. But we must adapt to new consumption patterns. That is why we propose a new, secure structure for content distribution, as well as a new emergency network based on 5G Broadcast. With it, we can reach out quickly, widely and securely – even if other systems are knocked out, comments CEO Johan Petersson at the company’s recent general assembly.
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