The ITC has announced that it has decided to allow broadcasters to use either the 16-QAM or 64-QAM mode of transmission through digital terrestrial.

The 64-QAM mode, which allows a greater number of channels to broadcast per multiplex compared to 16-QAM, was the standard up until the demise of ITV Digital earlier in the year. The replacement service, Freeview, operates on 16-QAM, which boasts improved coverage and performance, on four of its multiplexes. The remaining two multiplexes, operated by Digital 3 & 4 and SDN, opted to remain on 64-QAM, however.

"This decision follows a consultation amongst all interested parties and most recently an independently commissioned assessment involving field trials and research to provide practical in-home evidence of the comparative performance of the two transmission modes," said a press release from the regulator today.

"The ITC has concluded that on the evidence of the research and other available information an enforced mode change should not be mandated."