FINLAND
17 December 2003: Digital
distribution network to be extended in Finland
YLE, the Finnish public service broadcasting corporation, says in
a press release that YLE's Administrative Council has authorised the
company's operative management to start negotiations with Digita Oy
on extending the terrestrial digital distribution network to cover
the whole of Finland.
The Administrative Council granted the company's operative
management powers to conclude an order agreement on the extension of
the network. The authorisation to conclude an agreement also
requires the commercial operators to commit themselves to the
project.
The nation-wide digital distribution networks on two multiplexes
would be technically available from late autumn 2005. After the
extension, the network would cover 99.9% of the Finnish population
apart from the Aland Islands. Dead areas possibly occurring even
after the supplementing of the network (an estimated 2,000 - 3,000
households) would be covered with several dozen local low-output
subtransmitters.
Digital television programmes are now distributed in the
terrestrial network via a total of ten stations in three
multiplexes. At present, the terrestrial network covers approx. 72
per cent of the population. Digital television programmes can also
be viewed in the cable networks in built-up areas.
The digital network is currently being extended as agreed by the
television operators last summer so that, in August 2004, approx. 94
per cent of Finns will be covered by digital television
distribution.
Source: YLE Communications
8 December 2003: Working group:
Finland will switch over to digital television in 2007
A parliamentary working group proposes that all television
broadcasting in Finland be digital as of 31 August 2007, according
to the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
The starting point of the proposal is that all Finns will have an
opportunity to access digital television services at reasonable cost
and without difficulty in good time before the switching. The
working group expressed a wish that the construction of the digital
distribution network be accelerated so that the entire country would
be covered by the autumn of 2005.
In 1999, Government proposed the year 2006 for the switching-over
time. The working group is of the opinion that a little longer
period is necessary.
It emphasises that it is expensive to use overlapping
transmission technologies. The money is more wisely spent increasing
and diversifying the range of services. This would also reduce the
pressure to raise the television fee.
According to the working group, special attention must be paid
during the switching-over period to user-friendly services and
adequate information.
The group regards it very important that in the beginning of 2004
the Finnish Government will make a clear and final decision about
the switching-over time. It also hopes that the Government would
grant new digital licences.
Ms Leena Luhtanen, Minister of Transport and Communications of
Finland, considers the working group’s proposal good. She presumes
that the Government will make a resolution on the switching-over
time in February 2004.
Source: The Ministry of Transport and Communications
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