Portugal consults on future of DTT
April 25, 2014
From Branislav Pekic in Rome
Portugal’s National Communications Authority (Anacom) has launched a public consultation on the future of DTT in the country.
This consultation procedure, prepared in conjunction with the Regulatory Authority for the Media (ERC), aims to enable the participation and consultation of all stakeholders, with a view to defining measures, also taking into account the evolution on the use of the radio frequency spectrum in other countries.
The 70-page consultation document analyses possibles scenarios, in particular regarding the provision of new content and free-to-air platforms; the transmission of current TV programs in HD; the opportunity and suitability of introducing other business models, namely pay-TV, as well as the possible interest of providing the service in a different geographic scope.
All interested parties have a period of 20 days for comments, which should be submitted by May 26th.
The analogue switch-off in Portugal took place on April 26th 2012, but DTT reception has been plagued with problems in some parts of the country.