What is DTT?
Digital terrestrial television, or DTT, is a way of sending digital signals - pictures and sound - to an aerial. A process called ‘digital multiplexing’ compresses, or squeezes, the digital signal so that it takes up less space than an analogue signal. A box on the viewer’s TV set, known as a set-top box, decodes the digital signal received by the aerial so that it can appear as pictures and sound through the person’s television.
Why is DTT being licensed?
“Traditional” television services in Ireland are received in one of four ways: by analogue signal (through a rooftop aerial), through a cable system, by MMD or by satellite (through a satellite dish).
Digital broadcasting services (through cable and MMD, and by satellite) have been widely available to the Irish public since the late 1990’s, on a subscription basis from a number of service-providers.
The European Union (EU) has agreed among its member states that the transmission of analogue television services will cease around 2015. This process is known as ‘analogue switch off’ or ASO and from that point onwards, television will no longer be available through analogue means. The date for ASO in Ireland will be determined by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, as provided for under the Broadcasting (Amendment) Act, 2007
The Broadcasting (Amendment) Act, 2007 gives the BCI responsibility for licensing DTT multiplex operators. The aim is to ensure the continued availability of a diversity of services and programming content in a digital era.
Digital broadcasting offers many advantages including: more efficient use of spectrum; the possibility of a greater level of content and content-related services for audiences and; new economic opportunities.
For a glossary of useful terms related to DTT, please follow this link.
Background to DTT in Ireland
There has been gathering momentum for DTT in Ireland over the past number of years. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources launched a DTT Pilot Project in March 2007, while the Broadcasting Amendment Act, 2007 (‘the 2007 Act') provides for the switchover to digital television. The national priority is to ensure that after this date DTT will be established as a further digital platform available to the public and that those in Ireland who receive national terrestrial television services on a free-to-air, analogue basis will continue to have a non-pay option for receiving such services in the future.
At a European level, it is important for Ireland to make the transition to a fully digital environment in order maximise possible access to spectrum in the future.
What is the BCI’s role in licensing DTT?
The structure of the 2007 Act sees the platform as being ‘divided’ between various multiplex operators – RTÉ on the one hand and one or more BCI-licensed contractors on the other.
Under the 2007 Act, the BCI is required to licence commercial DTT in the State. In the first instance, the BCI will seek to licence three DTT multiplex operators for the establishment, maintenance and roll-out of commercial DTT in Ireland.
Separately under the 2007 Act, RTÉ has been assigned a single DTT multiplex to ensure the continued availability of the four existing free-to-air services in Ireland – that is, RTÉ 1, RTÉ 2, TG4 and TV3. RTÉ will establish and run this DTT multiplex independently of BCI-licensed multiplexes in fulfilment of its public-service obligations.