asked the Minister for Communications the frequency capacity which is available to Ireland on the UHF system; the proportion of this capacity which is currently utilised; and the frequency management problems which, according to him, the continued operation of television deflector systems would create.
Written Answers. - UHF System.
65.
The UHF frequency band 470 MHz to 960 MHz, which is allocated under the International Radio Regulations to which Ireland is a party for broadcasting, was planned at a European Broadcasting Area Conference in Stockholm in 1961. Under this plan Ireland has frequency assignments at main transmitting sites to provide for four television channels. However, considerable replanning of the UHF band and international co-ordination of additional frequency assignments would be necessary before four networks capable of giving nationwide coverage would be available, and even then there is no assurance that such co-ordination would be successfully completed.
UHF broadcasting spectrum is currently being used for the RTE 1 and RTE 2 channels at main stations at Three Rock Mountain, County Dublin, Clermont Cairn, County Louth, Cairn Hill, County Longford and Hollywell Hill, County Donegal and at low powered stations at 11 other locations. RTE will have further requirements for UHF spectrum for the purpose of providing further fill-in transposers as part of their ongoing programme to improve reception of existing services in areas of poor reception.
The remainder of RTE's transmission network for RTE 1 and RTE 2, comprising ten main stations and 46 transposer stations, operates in the VHF band.
In the longer term RTE's transmission network will have to be renewed. European trends indicate that all of the next generation of RTE transmitters will have to be accommodated in the UHF band.
The continued reception of UK television services (which operate solely on the UHF band) in this country requires that the channels used by these services which are receivable here cannot be interfered with.
The UHF band is the only spectrum available for the foreseeable future to meet any new conventional broadcast terrestrial television developments in this country. Any new services that might be contemplated will have to be accommodated in the UHF band. If the available spectrum in this band is given over to rebroadcasting the introduction of any new national services will be precluded.