As we mentioned in the 5G article a couple of years ago, some Freeview TV channels provided by the Crystal Palace transmitter in London are being given over to 5G services, and a further switch-off is happening at the end of this month, OFCOM having auctioned off the 700MHz TV band to EE in 2021. Although little publicised by Freeview themselves, we found comprehensive details here. Update – Freeview have now published the changes.

In summary, the one remaining multiplex in that band is being switched off with the loss of several channels, and movement of others. You may have to manually retune your TV apparently.

Channels closing: BBC News HD, Forces TV, FreeSports, More4+1, NOW 80s, Quest HD, Quest Red+1, QVC HD, QVC Beauty HD, PBS America+1, That’s TV Music, That’s TV UK, Together.

Channels moving: BBC Four HD, CBeebies HD.

5G mast [ photo: Chiswick Calendar ]

Rylett Road cycle cut-through

5G of course brings the benefits of speed to those that need it, and 5G handsets are now becoming mainstream. We covered issues around the oversized base stations last time, and subsequently managed to help the council to see off the specific example at Rylett Road, (which as we suggested at the time, has now become a convenient cycle cut-through instead, as shown).

Our affiliate SPRA was very active in opposing a proposed base station adjacent to the A4 on their patch, and ultimately successful. Having seen the immensity of the masts “in the flesh” (as opposed to just line drawings), and the somewhat outlandish amount of associated street clutter (for the 21st century), this was a good result.

One of the advantages mentioned for the recycling of the (relatively low) 700MHz band for use with 5G, is that new services will penetrate further into buildings than the higher frequencies associated with many of the new masts. We hope that this means fewer ugly masts on our streets than might otherwise have been the case. If however 5G isn’t enough for you, 6G is apparently already on the horizon and according to the venerable Nokia:

In the 6G era, the digital, physical and human world will seamlessly fuse to trigger extrasensory experiences

Perhaps fewer trips to Glastonbury in the marketing hypemobile ?