LTE broadcast and supplemental downlink enablers for exploiting novel service and business opportunities in the flexible use of the uhf broadcasting spectrum

This article reviews technology and business enablers for future flexible use concepts of the UHF broadcasting spectrum (470-790 MHz) by digital terrestrial TV and MBB. Flexible use of the UHF band aims to increase the efficiency of spectrum use in delivering fast-growing and converging mobile broadband, media, and TV content to meet changing consumer needs. Enabling technical factors are presented, and potential services are compared in order to identify similarities and differences in possible business model designs and scaling factors for developing successfully deployable services and regulatory concepts. The results indicate that several services meet basic requirements to scale, leveraging key existing assets and capabilities of LTE technologies and the business ecosystem while extending current business models beyond connectivity. Regulation and standardization forums can utilize the developed use case and service scenarios in analyzing the future of UHF spectrum and LTE broadcasting evolution. Furthermore, the flexible use concept has the potential to transform the business ecosystem around both BC and MBB by introducing new convergence opportunities for LTE's development toward 5G.