Asia Pacific Public Broadcasters will petition their governments to preserve radio spectrum for matters of 'public interest' when the digital switchover takes place. Delegates attending the 49th General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) in Seoul agreed space on the old analogue radio spectrum should not be sold for short term gain; it should be devoted to the public good.

The 'ABU Seoul Declaration', adopted unanimously by more than 700 delegates, also urges the region's broadcasters to work together to ensure the best public use of newly available frequencies. In recent years, the upper part of the UHF frequency band, used for terrestrial television broadcasting, has been increasingly sought by mobile telecom operators.

However ABU Secretary-General Dr Javad Mottaghi told delegates that available frequency should be allocated to broadcasters whose role "is vital to the development of a sustainable global digital or knowledge economy, creation of employment, empowerment of women and enrichment of life and work in the civil society." The declaration specifically says: "ABU members recognise that as broadcasters they have a responsibility to provide the audiences of the Asia-Pacific with knowledge and information to improve people's lives.

The 'digital wave' and the frequencies to be released could enable broadcasters to provide services in health, education and the environment for the benefit of communities in under-developed and deprived areas across the world." The largest of the EBU's sister broadcasting unions, the ABU brings together national broadcasters which reach more than half the world's population. Its 2012 General Assembly was hosted by Korean Broadcasting (KBS), whose chief executive is President of the Union.