Following the completion of the DTT migration process to release the 700 MHz band, with a view to the auction for 5G and other relevant bands, ANACOM, under its powers and duties concerning spectrum management, initiated a series of prudential monitoring actions for the technical verification of the band in question at a countrywide level.
In this regard, ANACOM monitored the 700 MHz band, to verify whether it was free of interferences and unauthorised transmissions in the Autonomous Regions of Madeira and Azores.
In the Autonomous Region of Madeira (RAM), the DTT migration process occurred between 9 and 18 December 2020 and, due to the contingencies imposed by the pandemic, this monitoring action took place at the beginning of the month of March covering Madeira and Porto Santo.
The work involved monitoring about two hundred sites, travelling more than 700 Km and 75 hours of work carried out by a technical team. This action covered all the municipalities and parishes of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, in order to ensure that the 694-790 MHz (700MHz) band is fully operational for use by the operators that acquire spectrum in the 5G auction.
Figure 1 presents the readings taken by equipment measuring signal energy levels in certain frequencies. This figure shows the signal levels (vertical axis) and the frequency band under review (horizontal axis). The green line indicates the instantaneous spectral values and the red line indicates the values maximised over a specific time span.
Figure 1 - Spectral view of the 700 MHz band without interfering signals
In the Azores, the DTT migration process occurred between 3 and 11 December 2020 and, as in the rest of the country, was carried out very successfully.
Having completed the migration of 8 of the 14 DTT transmitters in the Azores, ANACOM considered that it was important, under its spectrum management powers and duties, to confirm that the 700 MHz band was free of interferences and unauthorised transmissions in the entire regions.
To this end, the broadcasts in this band were monitored in the 155 parishes of the region, between 8 February and 12 March, using six technicians. The work was carried out in compliance with the restrictions decreed by the Regional Government, arising from the state of emergency, and involved about 280 hours of work in the measuring conducted at 846 points.
With a view to enhancing ANACOM's presence and proximity, this initiative is part of a series of planned actions aimed at achieving better recognition, reporting and resolution of the population's real problems in the areas concerning ANACOM. These regulation, monitoring and control mechanisms have been designed to improve the quality of essential services provided to the citizens. The provision of quality communications services also enables producing the conditions to strengthen and create more efficient and competitive economic activities, regardless of their geographic location.
Consult:
- Monitorização prudencial na Região Autónoma dos Açores https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1615121
- Monitorização prudencial na Região Autónoma da Madeira https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1615021
