Cyprus ready to enter Digital TV era

 Cyprus is ready to make a big step in modernising electronic communications, with the introduction of digital terrestrial television (DTT) in 2010.
Ministers of Communications and Works Nikos Nicolaides and Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis gave a joint press conference about the introduction of digital terrestrial television, on the occasion of the publication last Friday in the Official Gazette of the announcement for the public tender for the second DTT platform.
According to a decision by the Cabinet in July 2008, two DTT licenses will be given, one to the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) for public service broadcasting and a second one to a platform of private operators through auctioning.
The first digital broadcasting is expected to start at the latest in May 2010 with the completion of consultations for assigning the private license, while analogue transmissions will be terminated in July 2011, when Cyprus – in line with its commitment- will enter exclusively the digital TV era.
According to the Minister of Communications during the transitional period starting in a few months, digital and analogue programmes will be broadcast simultaneously, CyBC will operate the first platform and the private operator will get the second license.
Regarding the procedure of the auction for the private platform, Nicolaides said the initial price of the auction is approximately 850,000 euro.
The transmission of television programmes will be based on the technical standard MPEG4.
On his part, Sylikiotis noted that with the introduction of DTT citizens will have more options, will have access to quality services, and prices will be more affordable due to competition.
He also said that Cyprus Radio-Television Authority will become an authority for the control of audiovisual media services.