Digital terrestrial broadcasting in Romania
With a view to rendering more efficient the usage of the radio spectrum, which had been increasingly claimed for mobile communications, most of the member states of the International Telecommunications Union – ITU agreed to release the spectrum used by analogue terrestrial television and to allot this resource to mobile communications networks and equipment.
Historical
2006 – the Regional Radiocommunication Conference (RRC06), organised by the ITU, decided the actual replacement of analogue broadcasting by the digital broadcasting of television programmes. More than 100 countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East signed the Geneva 2006 Agreement, adopting a new frequency plan for all the signatory countries, a plan that replaced the one for analogue broadcasting;
2009 – Romania ratifies the Geneva RRC06 Agreement, by Law no.378/2009 on ratifying theFinal Acts of the Regional Radiocommunication Conference for planning of the digital terrestrial broadcasting service in parts of Regions 1 and 3, in the frequency bands 174-230 MHz and 470-862 MHz, and of those for reviewing the Stockholm Agreement of 1961, signed in Geneva, on 16 June 2006;
2009, October – the Strategy regarding the digital switchover and the implementation of digital multimedia services on a national level is published in Romania;
2010, May – the selection procedures, awarding conditions, licence fee and implementation calendar are established for 2 digital national multiplexes, by Government Decision no. 464/2010 on granting the licences for the use of the radio spectrum in digital terrestrial system;
2010, July – ANCOM starts the auction procedure for awarding two licences for the use of the radio spectrum in digital terrestrial television system. SC RCS&RDS SA, SC Romtelecom SA, Telediffusion de France (TDF), the National Broadcasting Company, SC MediaSat SRL, Osterreichische Rundfunksender GmbH&Co KG (ORS) and General Satellite Sofia purchased the Terms of Reference;
2010, August – the legal framework applicable in the procedure of awarding the licences for operating the two DTT multiplexes changed and ANCOM stops the auction in progress;
2013, July – the Romanian Government Decision no. 403/2013 on approving the Strategy regarding the digital switchover and the implementation of digital multimedia services on a national level was published;
2014, March – 2015, March – ANCOM organises three auctions for awarding digital terrestrial television multiplexes;
2015, June – terrestrial broadcasting of public and private television services in analogue system, in the 174-230 MHz band will continue, on a temporary basis, until 31 December 2016.
2016, September – analogue terrestrial broadcasting of public and private television services, in the frequency band 174-230 MHz, will continue – on a temporary basis – until 31 December 2019, according to Ordinance no.21/2016 for extending certain deadlines provided in Government Emergency Ordinance no.18/2015 on the establishment of certain measures required for ensuring transition from analogue terrestrial television to digital terrestrial television and implementing multimedia services on a national level.
2021, November – The terrestrial radio broadcasting of public and private analogue television services ceased in Romania on May 1, 2018. In 2014, 2015 and 2017 ANCOM organized selection procedures for granting licenses for the use of frequencies for digital terrestrial television for 3 national multiplexes, 13 regional licenses and 2 local licenses. Of these, in November 2021 are still in force a license for the national multiplex of digital terrestrial television that carries public programs and which the obligation to cover 90% of the population and 80% of the national territory, a regional license (in Buzau) and a license local (in Timisoara).
Definitions
Radio frequency spectrum – the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that includes radio waves with frequencies between 9 kHz and 3.000 GHz. Wireless communications technologies, from radio to satellite telephony, use the frequencies in this range.
Digital multiplex – a group of radio broadcasting and television programmes, additional multimedia services and other associated identification data transmitted from the emission stations to the end-users by terrestrial radio means, using digital modulation within the limits of a standard television channel/frequency block.
National coverage multiplex – a digital multiplex broadcasted on a national coverage network.
Digital television – a television system by which television programmes are transmitted to the users as a multiplex, in accordance with a digital television standard.
Cable television – technical solution for distributing television programmes to the users using signals transmitted through a fixed optical or co-axial fibre network, unlike television broadcasting using the radio spectrum, for the reception of which an antenna is required.
Satellite television – broadcasting TV programmes, via TV satellites, to various users: dish anennas, cable systems or direct-to-home (DTH). ”Satellite television” is often used only for DTH. Satellite broadcasting requires the use of satellites situated on the Earth’s orbit.
Digital dividend (spectrum dividend) – the 790-862 MHz range released in the UHF band 470 – 862 MHz following the analogue switch-off and the digital switchover.
Responsibilities in the process of transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television
MSI
· elaborate the Strategy regarding the digital switchover and the implementation of digital multimedia services on a national level
· establish licence fees
· adopt the normative acts required for ensuring the legal framework for the digital switchover.
ANCOM
· distribute frequencies by multiplexes, according to the final acts of the World Radiocommunication Conferences and of the ITU and to the decisions adopted at EU level regarding the implementation of the digital dividend, as well as to the results of international frequency coordination;
· elaborate the calendar and the technical conditions for awarding the national DTT multiplexes and of the regional/local multiplexes;
· coordinate and monitor the technical transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting;
· ensure optimal technical conditions for the digital switchover process;
· award licences for the use of the radio spectrum in digital terrestrial system;
· technical authorisation of digital emissions;
· surveillance and control of compliance with the obligations provided in the licences for the use of spectrum in digital terrestrial system.
CNA
· monitor and ensure the carrying out, jointly with the Ministry of Culture, of the audio-visual policies assumed by Romania, of the information and media campaigns on the switchover process;
· award digital audiovisual licences within the multiplexes for digital audiovisual media services;
· establish the conditions for the content to be broadcast by means of MUX 1, the free-to-air multiplex.
Multiplex holders
With a view to the digital switchover, by 17 June 2015, ANCOM had organised four auctions for awarding digital multiplexes.
The holders of multiplexes are currently the following:
National Radiocommunications Company (SNR)
- 1 national multiplex in UHF
TV Sat 2002
- 1 regional multiplex (Buzău) in UHF
Nova Media
- 1 local multiplex (Timișoara) in UHF