It Attempts World’s First Technology That Minimizes Frequency Guard Band That Might Bring Controversy About Its Validity
Korean government decided to secure additional UHD channel by minimizing guard bandwidth within 700 MHz frequency. It made broadband service possible by sustaining frequency band for mobile communication at 40 MHz range.
While government was switching 5 local channels including EBS to UHD, it also found solution that makes mobile communication broadband service possible. Because its plan to minimize guard band is first attempt ever in the world, it is predicted that it will bring controversy on technical validity.
Unlike advanced countries first distribute 700 MHz for communication, Korea received criticism for going backward on world trend by dividing 700 MHz into communication and broadcasting. People are pointing out that discovering new frequency resource for sudden increase of data henceforth will be under the gun.
Second Secretary Choi Jae Yoo of Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning (MSIP) reported government proposal about similar information at Frequency Policy Subcommittee that was held at National Assembly on the 6th. Secretary Choi said that guard band is necessary if communication and broadcasting both share 700 MHz bandwidth and that it is possible to distribute 5 channels to UHD upon result of technology verification.
Within ‘4+1’ previous policy made by MSIP, only 4 700 MHz bandwidth channels were able to be given to local channels. One channel (EBS) was to be given DMB bandwidth.
Assemblyman Shim Hak Bong said that it is a historic happening for government to have this result by working together with broadcasting and communication industries. He also made an evaluation by saying that the government and National Assembly made a productive work through creative destruction. National Assembly will decide on the plan that was prepared by the government through technical reviews during one of the weekdays.
There are also concerns about interference of electric wave due to reduction of guard band. “We need to finalize decisions after we confirm that technical problems were completely solved just like MSIP said. We need to examine if frequency technology, which did not work 2 weeks ago, made a progress within just 2 weeks.” Assemblyman Chun Byung Won said about what needs to be still examined for finalization.
“There is a verified result that there is no interference even if guard band is shortened if filter technology that is stronger than international standard is applied. We are going to prepare ourselves so that we can overcome any problems if they do happen.” Director Chun Sung Bae of MSIP’s Electric Wave Policy Department said about what it is going to prepare for if there are any problems.
MSIP is preparing for frequency distribution announcement proposal by end of this month and revise distribution announcement through Office for Government Policy Coordination Frequency Deliberate Committee. It is going to establish mobile communication frequency auction plan and basic policy plan such as local channel UHD introduction at the second half of 2015.
Assemblyman Cho Hae Jin (Director of Frequency Subcommittee) said that it needs final verification time to examine government proposal and it will confirm final plan by holding another meeting this week if technical verification gets finished.
Staff Reporter Kim, Yongjoo | ky.j@etnews.com