Bearing in mind PTC's response, among others, as to the final solution proposed for the DTT network, by determination of 18 January 2013, ICP-ANACOM launched a «public consultation on scenarios for the evolution of the Digital Terrestrial Television network»1, in order to collect different opinions and contributions from all interested parties on a solution that allows for greater network stability, namely at the level of the quality of reception of the DTT signal, considering the need, on the one hand, to minimize the impact of implementation on the population and, on the other, for a solution that is sufficiently consistent and stable, taking into account the likely scenarios for spectrum use over the medium to long term, including at European level.
Several alternatives were addressed for the future of the DTT network connected to Multiplexer A on the Mainland, considering the spectrum that currently exists, so that the best compromise solution between the quality of service provided by the network, spectrum efficiency and impact on the population could be reached.
The report including a summary of contributions received and this Authority's views thereon is available at www.anacom.pthttps://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=2958, as well as responses received, excluding items considered confidential.
From the consultation process - which put forward for consideration five possible scenarios for the evolution of the DTT network2 and requested respondents to identify any additional option deemed to be appropriate and feasible - clearly resulted, as best explained in the referred report and in the respective conclusions, that most participants considered that changing the settings of the current network to a MFN network (SFN/MFN) - Scenery 5 - would be the solution to be adopted for the future of the DTT network. It should also be referred that several respondents took the view that this solution should be implemented in a phased manner.
1 Document available at: Consultation on scenarios for the evolution of the DTT networkhttps://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1150919.
2 In short, the following possibilities were identified: Scenery 1 - Elimination the overlay network and exclusive operation of the SFN network on channel 56; Scenery 2 - Maintenance of the overlay network; Scenery 3 - Elimination of the 3 transmitters of channel 56 co-located with the transmitters of the overlay network; Scenery 4 - Change of the transmission channel of the SFN network transmitters, located within coverage areas of transmitters of the overlay network of Monte da Virgem and Lousã; and Scenery 5 - Change of the settings to a MFN network (SFN/MFN).
