ZAGREB, June 24, 2015 - The transition period within which all European countries and Africa as well as a number of Asian countries should move from the analogue to digital broadcasting officially ends on June 17, 2015. This deadline was laid down in the final Agreement of the Regional Radio communication Conference 2006, where the international frequency plan for digital television was adopted .The countries which have not fully completed the transition continue to operate, but without the possibility of protecting the analogue transmitters and signal coverage.
The Republic of Croatia has successfully completed the transition to digital TV signals transmission and switched off the analogue television as the 14th country in the world and the first one in the region in October 2010
Digital TV technology compared to the analogue television offers wider possibilities in the production, transmission and distribution of television signals enabling easier storage of multimedia content and other data.
By switching-over to digital TV a part of the radio frequency spectrum popularly called a" digital dividend" has been released. As in economics, a digital dividend is a part of the profit paid out or in this case released for the provision of a number of new services. "Digital Dividend" therefore comprises additional television programs and television programs of high quality image (HD), and a part of the radio frequency spectrum is completely free and can be used for mobile networks communications and wireless broadband Internet access. This part of the spectrum of the "digital dividend" is suitable for ensuring the coverage with significantly lower investments in the network therefore it is attractive for the mobile communications operators. In 2012 and 2013 HAKOM issued licenses for the radio frequency spectrum usage, the first "digital dividend", providing a direct income for the State Budget in the amount of over 612 million HRK, and the additional 432 million will be collected from the annual charges until the expiration of the licences in 2020 all amounting to the total amount of over one billion HRK. In addition to the financial resources the State collects on the bases of licenses issued and from the conversion of the spectrum is expected to increase the investments in the broadband infrastructure in mobile communications networks.
Digital television has brought better TV signal quality, better and more consistent image and wider choice of additional television channel and new services to the Croatian citizens such as digital teletext, interactive services, electronic channel programme (EPG) and high quality image HD.
Digitalization has increased the signal coverage for the television publishers. In addition, the television publishers were given the opportunity to produce additional facilities and channels, but it also brought about new competition on the market. Therefore the former analogue commercial publishers RTL Television and Nova TV launched new channels RTL 2, the House TV and RTL kockica, while the public television now broadcasts HRT 3 and HRT4. Moreover, the viewers can currently watch even specialized programs of new publishers, CMC and Sports Television. By means of local publishers’ digitalization, the local publishers were given the possibility to increase the coverage and move onto the regional level, what they have mostly utilized.
Technically the transition process to the digital television broadcasting ran smoothly and without any major problems, and the minor ones were successfully resolved before the analogue switch-off. The problem of the Italian interference still exists because of the violations of the international agreements by Italy. HAKOM's task was to ensure the necessary frequencies for digital television, to adjust rule books and conduct tenders for the selection of the network operators. According to many, all the activities were performed in professional and timely manner and in accordance with the Action Plan of the “Analogue to Digital Television Broadcasting Switchover Strategy”. Prior to the analogue switch-off HAKOM had checked the coverage conditions under the licences for the use of radio spectrum and found that the coverage of the digital signal was in accordance with the license. In order for the transition from the analogue to digital broadcasting to be successful, most citizens had to replace the receivers. The citizens evaluated the digitalisation project as a positive one meaning that they were informed in a professional and timely manner about the importance and the digitization process.
Further development of television brings new changes before us. The development of technology allows more efficient compression and the usage of radio spectrum for digital television. Therefore, a strategy is being planned which foresees for the existing DVB-T system with MPEG-2 compression to be replaced with a better DVB-T2 system with H.264 / AVC, that is H.265 / HEVC compression in the next five years. Changing the standards will allow us to watch program in an even better image quality- UHD, but it will also enable the spectrum conversion as well as the allocation of "the second digital dividend", and additional capacity in the UHF band for wireless broadband Internet access with high speed data transfer.
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For additional information please contact:
Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM)
Roberta Frangeša Mihanovića 9
10110 Zagreb, Croatia
Tel. + 385 (0) 1 700 70 07
Fax + 385 (0)1 700 70 70
Media inquiries can be submitted online using HAKOM’s official website:
Registration required.
ABOUT HAKOM: HAKOM (www.hakom.hr) - Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries – ensures preconditions for a fair market competition, stable growth and environment for innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market. HAKOM protects users’ interests and the possibility of choice among various communications and postal services at affordable prices, defines sustainable competitive conditions for operators and service providers under fair conditions for return on investment, and provides support to economic growth, public services and the quality of life in the Republic of Croatia by using modern technologies. HAKOM’ strategic goals are: to promote regulation of the electronic communications and postal services market, to support growth of investments and innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market, to provide efficient use of limited resources, to accelerate the growth of broadband products and services, to provide affordable offers of communications and postal services, to provide protection and informing of users, to build an efficient and comprehensive information system, to define and implement efficient processes, and to acquire multi-disciplinary competencies in market regulation.
