The ITC has said it will allow Digital 3 & 4, and SDN, to continue transmitting their services in the 64-QAM transmission mode in an interim period while a "rapidly commissioned" independent study looks into the viability of operating a dual-mode digital terrestrial television platform.

The Commission has said it has amended its technical standards from its original mandate that 16-QAM should be the chosen mode of operation across all multiplexes, to allow the BBC and Crown Castle under the "FreeView" umbrella to press ahead with plans to launch its service, currently on course for next month. It is understood that wrangling between FreeView and existing multiplex operators could have potentially delayed the launch of FreeView's services.

Field trials will be conducted by the ITC next month when both 16-QAM (FreeView) and 64-QAM (Digital 3 & 4, SDN) transmissions are being broadcast. The Commission explained: "The most critical issue to assess will be the potential for differential performance between the public service channels carried at '64-QAM', and those at '16-QAM', in poor reception areas and in the presence of impulse interference (e.g. from thermostats, car ignitions, refrigerators etc)."

The ITC does note that it remains minded to choose the 16-QAM mode for all multiplexes, but will come to a decision in the New Year based on the trials.