Advanced Television

SES Astra urges Spain to extend DTT

October 28, 2013

From David Del Valle in Madrid

Satellite operator SES has urged the Spanish government to hold new public tenders to extend DTT to isolated areas across the country.

The move aims to avoid those remote areas in Spain (with around 1.2 million inhabitants) being left without any DTT channel following the EC’s decision to rule against state subsidies to DTT and oblige the government to pay back €260 million.

The General Director of SES Astra Spain, Luis Sahún, said that the EC’s decision has given rise to “a new scenery” where “users will be able to have access to all different broadcasting TV technologies” adding that “satellite will become one of the key technologies in the broadcasting of advanced digital TV services”.

New business opportunities would arise for SES Astra and other satellite operators as by law, public and private TV broadcasters are only obliged to cover 98 and 96 per cent of Spain respectively, via DTT services.

Sahún also indicated that the release of the so-called digital dividend and the lack of spectrum enough for all DTT frequencies will enable satellite companies to become a leading player in the market by distributing advanced TV services (HD, 4K, 3D).

Categories: Articles, Broadcast, DTH/Satellite, DTT/DSO, Policy, Regulation