Italy sets DVB-T2 switchover date
November 1, 2017
From Branislav Pekic in Rome
Italy has set a deadline of June 30th 2022 for the transition from DVB-T to the second-generation digital broadcasting standard DVB-T2/HEVC.
The date is mentioned in the 2018 Budget that refers to efficient spectrum use and the transition to 5G technology.
The shutdown of DVB-T broadcasts is motivated by the need to make available the 700 MHz frequency band for 5G, a requirement set down by the EU. The TV channels would then move to the 470-694 MHz band.
The transition to DVB-T2 should start from January 1st 2020 and will be gradual, region by region. The timetable will be defined in a new frequency allocation plan to be adopted by the Communications Authority (AgCom) by May 31st 2018.
In practice, the rights of use of the frequencies assigned to broadcasters will be converted to the rights of use of transmission capacity on the new DVB-T2 multiplexes.
The Italian government will provide €100 million in incentives for the purchase of the digital boxes (€25 per unit).
According to some estimates, more than 90 per cent of the TV sets in Italian households will become obsolete and will require an additional digital box or the substitution of the TV set.