The Spanish government has approved an urgent Royal Decree designed to regulate the imminent DTT migration with a new National DTT Technical Plan so that frequencies in the 694-790MHz band can be released for 5G services ahead of the EU deadline of 30 June 2020. In a statement, the government said it approved the urgent decree to speed up the process in view of the forthcoming general elections on 28 April. The decree also guarantees the continuity of DTT in the 470-694 MHz band until at least 2030.

Under the technical plan, the existing digital multiplexes (RGE1, RGE2, MPE1, MPE2, MPE3, MPE4, MPE5 and MAUT) will be allowed to retain national and regional coverage but will be required to shift to HD by the end of 2022. The government estimates that around 8 million homes will be affected by the new digital dividend plan, with adjustment costs ranging from EUR 100 for small-sized buildings with compact equipment to EUR 600 for medium or large-sized buildings.