Commission suggestions on use of digital dividend
The European Commission has made suggestions regarding the use of the digital dividend by member states. Frequencies no longer needed for broadcasting are now available for broadband services, an opportunity the Commission wants Europe to make good use of. The Commission has asked its members to speed up the process of shutting down analogue television broadcasting, so that the process can be completed by 2012.
Five members, Germany among them, have already shown the feasibility of the switch to digital. The Commission also urges members to use the digital dividend in a way that promotes competition, in order to achieve the full economic benefit. Brussels reckons with between 20 and 50 billion Euros in economic growth related directly to the digital dividend.