Case study

Digital TV for Hong Kong

Providing planning expertise to shape future digital television policy and facilitate co-ordination with Mainland China

The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) is a department responsible for regulating the telecommunications sector in Hong Kong and required help in understanding the options for introducing Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) in order to shape Government policy.

Following a previous PA project for OFTA on Initial DTT Frequency Planning in 1999-2000, issues arose during spectrum co-ordination negotiations between OFTA and the mainland China broadcasting authority that required the preliminary DTT frequency plans to be revised. A second study was commissioned to develop revised options for introducing DTT into Hong Kong and the surrounding region of mainland China.

Key aspects of the project were validation of the coverage and interference prediction models to ensure these were accepted by all parties and developing plans which provided both sides with the same number of channels at all stages through the transition process from analogue to digital.

PA provided independent technical advice for liaison and negotiation with mainland authorities and technical and policy support during coordination meetings. As a result of the study, preliminary agreement has been reached on channel allocations. PA also conducted training in the UK and Hong Kong for OFTA staff in the planning process and use of PA's planning software which was developed and delivered to OFTA