b'30 Partner News Winter 2020CorporateAchieving the 700MHz Clearance milestoneBy Jason Harvey, Programme Director, 700MHz Clearance, ArqivaIn September 2020, the 700MHz Clearancephysically replace the antennas, some programme, the largest broadcastweighing around six tonnesa challenge engineering project since the digitalwhich involved cranes and, on some switchover, confirmed completion afteroccasions, special Heli-Lift helicopters.four years. Costing 350m and involvingOne new temporary mast needed to over 1,000 workers from organisationsbe built, to stand alongside the iconic including Arqiva, Ofcom, Digital UK,Emley Moor Tower in Yorkshire. This Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited (DMSL)new mast, which is taller than the and a team of multiplex operators, theShard, measures in at 1,040ftmaking 700MHz spectrum was cleared, freeing upit Britains seventh tallest structure. space for mobile operators to meet risingThe last places to be upgraded were mobile data demands. Prior to this, theKendal and the Isle of Man on 19 spectrum band had been used for digitalAugust 2020, marking the end for this terrestrial TV broadcast and professionalhugely impressive engineering feat. radio microphones used in theatres, music studios as well as outdoor events.What does this mean?The programme has freed up the Described as performing open heart700MHz Clearance radio spectrum surgery on the nations television network,for mobile services in the UK, clearing the process required in excess of 2mthe way for mobile operators and hours of workers time with the aim ofother companies to use 5G to develop protecting TV broadcast services whilstnew data usage technologies and clearing the spectrum. Finishing aheadservices in sectors such as transport, of schedule, despite the impact ofmanufacturing and healthcare. Covid-19, and within budget, this was aThe low-frequency nature of the 700MHz huge milestone for all those involved.spectrum is suited to carrying mobile signals into buildings and over long The processdistancesincluding remote areas. It will Meticulous planning was needed fromalso increase the capacity of current 4G all sides. As part of 57 clearance eventsnetworks, providing rural communities (where signals are switched over to newwith much-needed improved mobile frequencies, meaning viewer retunescoverage and a more reliable service. are required), changes were made toWhat remains most impressive is that over 1,200 television transmitter sitesthis was achieved without causing any spanning the length and breadth ofdisruption to television signals for the the countrysome in the most ruralnations 17.8m Freeview householdsall places or on top of the UKs tallestthey had to do was retune to continue structures. At times engineers had towatching their favourites in peace.'