The transition to digital radio in Mexico

Background

The 1992 World Administrative Radio Conference allocated the “L” band (1.452 -1.492 MHz) worldwide for the development of complementary satellite and terrestrial digital audio broadcasting services.  “S” bands where also reserved for some countries.

In 1993 in the Federal District, demonstration tests of Eureka-147 technologies were conducted, which due to their nature failed to furnish the information needed to identify the technical criteria on which to base the planning of L-band and the potential development of digital audio broadcasting in Mexico.

As a result of the evolution of digital technologies with audio broadcasting applications, and the recognition of said technologies by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a Decision published in the Federal Gazette on July 30, 1999 created the Consultative Committee for Digital Broadcasting Technologies (the Committee), made up of members from the authority as well as from the industry.

The Committee has conducted studies of the different digital radio standards available throughout the world. Based on a Recommendation issued by the Committee, on March 27, 2000, the "Departmental Decision to reserve the use of radio frequency bands for research and development activities relating to the introduction of digital radio,” was published in the Federal Gazette, also establishing that said Decision would remain in effect until a selection is made as to which digital broadcasting technologies will be implemented in Mexico.

Also by Recommendation of the Committee, on October 3, 2000, the Decision establishing the obligation on the part of radio and television concessionaires to implement the technology chosen by the authority, in compliance with the deadlines, terms and conditions indicated.

In accordance with the foregoing, Mexico has been evaluating digital technologies with applications in audio broadcasting, including: Eureka-147, IBOC and Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), that have been identified as viable by the  ITU  based on experimental and written information, so that the ITU member countries can adopt the standard that best meets their particular needs.

In addition, based on studies conducted by the Committee at national, regional and international forums and meetings focusing on various aspects of the technology standards, as well as on international experience gathered with regard to the process of adopting standards and the transition from analog to digital currently underway in other countries, we have recognized the need to select a standard that allows us to make the most efficient use of the radio spectrum, raises the broadcast quality received by the population, and facilitates the development of new services arising as a result of convergence with telecommunications technologies. Consequently, the adoption of a digital radio standard will have an impact on Mexico’s technical, economic and social development.

Current Situation

Bearing in mind that radio coverage in Mexico is 99%, based on 1577 radio stations using both AM and FM frequency bands with analog broadcasting systems that must be considered for transition to Terrestrial Digital Radio (TDR); on September 21, 2006, the Committee approved the guidelines for establishing the principles that will serve as a basis for the creation of TDR transition policies, with the following objectives:

• Universal Service: to create the necessary conditions for TDR to gradually reach the entire country.

• Continued Analog Service: to guarantee the radio-listening public continued reception of analog service during the TDR transition period.

• Quality: to improve the quality of analog broadcast radio signals, to achieve better quality than that currently obtained on FM.

• Industry Growth: to keep broadcasting momentum going in Mexico, striving to minimize current quality differences between AM and FM.

• New associated services and additional services: to drive their development, taking advantage of their mobility, content and cost-free nature, in addition to technological convergence.

• Economies of scale: their creation will be encouraged, so that the price of the receivers will be accessible to the radio-listening public and also to promote product diversity, thereby facilitating the transition to TDR.

• Legal Certainty: to create the necessary conditions for long-term investment, clearly expressing the obligations and commitments to be undertaken.

• Rational, planned use of the radio spectrum:  to guarantee the availability of the radio spectrum necessary for transition to TDR.

• Dynamic policy: the Policy created must be flexible as the process moves forward, with special emphasis on the evolution of technologies and services occurring in other countries.

In spite of the foregoing, given the process of analysis and evaluation in which Mexico currently finds itself, in the opinion of the Federal Telecommunications Commission (the Commission), at this time we do not have all the information required to make a decision as to the suitability of any one particular standard, and as such it would not be advisable to definitively adopt any of the three standards under analysis for transition at the national level, since in order to do so, further long-term testing under real operating conditions would be required.

Moreover, in light of the development and implementation of the IBOC system in the United States of America, in some cases there have been reception problems involving audio signals broadcast by Mexican radio stations due to interference from US radio stations. Therefore Mexico must take decisive actions to ensure that Mexican radio concessionaires and licensees in the coordination area along the northern border can broadcast under conditions of technological equality, for the benefit of the quality of service provided to the radio-listening public; actions which guarantee the synchronous and harmonious use of frequencies, in addition to preserving the right to use the radio spectrum allotted and assigned to Mexico in the Bilateral Agreements signed on this matter.

The aforementioned problem is even more pressing given that on March 22 of 2007, the FCC adopted digital audio broadcasting regulations allowing, among other things, licensed US AM radio stations to use the IBOC system for night operations.

Taking into account the foregoing, and with the goal of setting TDR transition process in motion, the Commission deems it necessary to establish an initial phase for voluntary implementation of the IBOC system via modification of the technical characteristics of radio stations, while the technological conditions for selecting a definitive standard are still being defined. This is most pressing for stations located in the coordination area along our country’s northern border. This initial phase would be established without prejudice to the Commission issuing other Decisions as a result of requests it may receive from concessionaires and licensees in relation to the adoption of digital radio technology;

Moreover, in order to clearly establish the rights and obligations of concessionaires and licensees of audio broadcasting stations, with regard to the transition to TDR, it would be advisable to modify the Terms of the Concessions and Licenses held by concessionaires and licensees who commit to the transition process.

In accordance with the foregoing, the Commission has drawn up the "Terrestrial Digital Radio (TDR) Transition Policy for Audio Broadcasting Stations in the Coordination Area along Mexico's Northern Border," a document that is currently in the process of being published in the Federal Gazette.

The purpose of the Policy is to ensure that the audio broadcasting stations located in the coordination area along Mexico’s northern border can operate under conditions of technological equality with the US broadcasters, and once it is approved it will allow the concessionaires and licensees in said area to voluntarily broadcast using the IBOC system, after obtaining the Commission’s authorization, thereby contributing data for the Committee’s research and development studies aimed at establishing technical criteria for planning the AM and FM frequency bands, in addition to determining the characteristics and parameters that should be set to protect Mexican and US audio broadcasting stations' operations using the IBOC system.

However, it is important to point out that given the process of analysis and evaluation in which Mexico currently finds itself with regard to digital technologies applicable to audio broadcasting, we still do not have all the information required to make a decision as to the suitability of any one particular standard, and as such it currently would not be advisable to definitively adopt any of the three standards under analysis (IBOC, Eureka-147 and Digital Radio Mondiale) for transition at the national level, since in order to do so, further long-term testing under real operating conditions are required.

For this reason, the Consultative Committee for Digital Broadcasting Technologies will continue to analyze and evaluate the digital technologies identified for study, in order to decide on the adoption of a standard that best meets the needs of the radio industry and radio-listening public and establish the necessary conditions for the transition to TDR at the national level, taking into account the transition processes taking place in other countries, from a regulatory and service coverage standpoint; the quality and diversity of services, and the economies of scale and availability of equipment in Mexico.

Comisión Federal de Telecomunicaciones
COFETEL
Mexico