Dr. Jochen Zenthöfer 16/10/2019
Berlin/Karlsruhe. The motion tabled in the Bundestag by the Free Democratic Party (FDP) entitled “safeguarding radio frequencies for media and culture for the long term” (German Bundestag printed paper 19/11035) will be deliberated on by the Committee on Transport and Digital Infrastructure. FDP Member of the Bundestag Christian Jung made the following statement on this subject:“Musicians, actors and others in creative occupations rely on wireless production technologies in their day-to-day work. Wireless production technologies are important tools within the value chain in the radio and PMSE (Programme Making and Special Events) fields. In Germany, hundreds of thousands of wireless microphones, in-ear systems, radio communications systems and other similar pieces of equipment are used, amongst other things, for theatre performances, concerts or professional services requiring event and conference technology. These systems require sufficient interference-free frequencies in the UHF spectrum. Yet this is under threat. Already today, there is a lack of frequencies in cities like Berlin, Mannheim or Karlsruhe, for example. The World Radiocommunication Conference which is taking place in Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt) may lead to a further worsening of Germany’s situation.
Note should therefore be taken of the current position of the German association for media and entertainment technology (VPLT). The association emphasises that there is no alternative to the 470 – 694 MHz band for professional users of audio equipment. It has stressed that the loss of further frequencies would invariably lead to insurmountable problems at all types of events in Germany. I therefore call on the Federal Government to seek to ensure that the UHF band remains available for culture and events. Only in this way can a cultural collapse be prevented. 5G cannot at present offer an alternative for PMSE and radio. So far, 5G solutions for PMSE are not on the horizon. Indeed, perhaps such solutions will never be found. The Federal Government should not, therefore, cite 5G in debates on the future of the German events, creative and trade-fair industry. These sectors will continue to require UHF spectrum frequencies.”
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