The BBC said it began its DVB-T2 test transmissions in late June in preparation for HD programming on its free service, Freeview, using its transmitter in Guildford, southwest of London.
The government-supported broadcaster said its transmission facilities are being provided by Arqiva and National Grid Wireless (formerly Crown Castle UK), both of which are longtime supporters of Britain’s DVB standardization process and the launch of DVB-T2—the next-generation standard for digital terrestrial transmission that will be deployed by Freeview HD. (Freeview currently uses the decade-old DVB-T standard.)
The BBC said DVB-T2 provides far more capacity than the older standard, which will be essential for HD services on Freeview, and now plans to begin transmissions by late 2009.
