Frequencies will be allocated for needs of 4G standard

The Ministry Communications and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan has decided to allocate frequency spectrum of 790-862 MHz bands for the needs of fourth-generation mobile standard LTE (Long Term Evolution).

The ministry reported that currently these frequencies are used in analogue television broadcasting. The frequencies will be released after the full transition to digital broadcasting standard.

As for the evolution of television in the coming years, the ministry said that the deployment of high-definition (HD) television by broadcasters is topical in this issue.

After the distribution of frequencies between mobile operators the remaining part of frequencies (470-690 MHz) will be used for the needs of HDTV.

"For this purpose it is necessary to discuss the perspective plans for deployment of HDTV channels directly with television channels themselves. Based on this, needs of Azerbaijan in these frequencies in future will be determined," the ministry said.

The high definition television is a new level of image quality (broadcasting in widescreen format, high brightness and colour accuracy, zero interference, surround sound in Dolby Digital format and other benefits).

If today's standard digital TV, which uses MPEG-2 protocol, gives the opportunity to broadcast 10-12 channels, the HDTV format allows broadcasting only three or four channels.