Romania - Consultation calls for use of DVB-T2
The Ministry of Communications has opened a consultation on its draft plans for digital switchover.
As part of its strategy, the government calls for the launch of 5 DTT multiplexes (4 UHF and 1 VHF) using the DVB-T2 standard. All services must be launched by 2015 at which time analogue switch-off will be completed. Switch-off will take place region by region.
Source: DigiTAG / Ministry Website
Date: October 4, 2012
DTT tender for Romania soon
Quoted in Financiarul, Catalin Marinescu, the president of the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications of Romania (ANCOM), said that postponing the ASO date by three years in late 2010 had in his view been a mistake.
The decision had stopped a DTT tender taking place at that time “dead in its tracks”.
It is now expected that a new tender for DTT will be issued soon and licences awarded during the summer.
Instead of being auctioned separately, as before, licences for all six multiplexes will be held at the same time.
Marinescu also said the selection procedure will be competitive rather than comparative (i.e. a beauty contest), as had previously been the case.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 28th March 2012
Broadcasting act amended
The Romanian National Audiovisual Council (CNA) has endorsed a draft emergency ordinance amending the country’s Broadcasting Act.
The new draft will underpin the country’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting by granting the national public broadcaster TVR one of six DTT multiplexes, reports Broadband TV News.
The licence granted to TVR will not be transferable to another party.
Earlier this week the Romanian government unveiled a plan to kick start the country’s transition to digital broadcasting, having previously put back the ASO by three years at the end of 2010.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 14th March 2011
Draft plan on Digital Switchover
The Ministry of Communications (MCIS) has prepared a draft bill on digital switchover, according to Broadband TV News.
The bill calls for the launch of 6 DTT multiplexes by 2015 with the first multiplex being launched by March 2012.
The first multiplex will cover 60% of the population and offer free-to-air services as well as simulcasts of the existing analogue services, until the 1st January 2013.
The remaining 5 multiplexes would launch between the 1st January 2013 and the 17th June 2015 after ASO is completed.
The multiplexes will be awarded through a competitive tender organised by the communications regulator ANCOM.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 14th March 2011
Romania working on new digital strategy
Romania’s Ministry of Communications and Information Society (MCIS) is likely to formulate a strategy for the transition to digital broadcasting within the next two to three months, reports Broadband TV News.
According to ZF Valerian Vreme, the minister of communications made the statement and added that it may be possible for the National Radiocommunications Company (SNR) or the Romanian Television Corporation to receive DTT licences.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 1st November 2010
ASO date may be sooner than later
According to ZF, Catalin Marinescu, the president of the regulatory body ANCOM, has proposed bringing the ASO date forward from 2015 by two years to 2013, basing his argument on the fact that the EU will approve its policy on spectrum usage this autumn, reports Broadband TV News.
Marinescu says there is a view that the spectrum will become available from the beginning of 2013 and as a result ANCOM has suggested to the Ministry of Communications that Romania should fall in line with this development.
In August the ASO date was put back three years to 2015 and as a result the ongoing DTT tender was cancelled.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 25th October 2010
More on Romanian DTT
The withdrawal of the recent DTT tender has been made official by the publication in the Romanian Official Journal of the Government decision no.833/2010 that amended the strategy concerning the transition from analogue terrestrial to digital terrestrial television and the national implementation of digital multimedia services. Ancom said it was not consulted during the government's decision. As a result of another government decision issued in May, Ancom was carrying out an international tender for granting the licences for the first two DTT multiplexes for which seven companies from Romania and abroad registered. Ancom underlines that by means of the first two tendered multiplexes a reasonable simulcast period was to be ensured, and that deploying the two multiplexes did not require putting a stop to the analogue signal. Ancom has sent notice letters to all seven buyers of the terms of references regarding the need to call off the tenders, also announcing that the authority will return the amounts paid for purchasing the respective terms of references. Furthermore, Ancom expects the issuance within 45 days of the new government decision to establish the digital switchover calendar, as well as the issuance of the other normative acts which will establish the new tender procedure, the manner in which the licences will be granted, as well as the licence fee. The postponement of the digital switchover and, implicitly, of the spectrum release leads to delaying the launch of certain broadband services in Romania and may create the premises for widening the gap between Romania and the other member states of the European Union in broadband internet access services, Ancom warned.
Source: Telecompaper
Item added: 6th September 2010
Romania cancels DTT tender
As expected Romania has decided to cancel its current DTT tender and put back its ASO date by three years to the 1st January 2015.
Broadband TV News also reports that the deadline for the first two multiplexes reaching 95% of the population will, now be December 31, 2015, with all TVs sold in Romania having DVB-T MPEG-4 decoders by January 1, 2015.
The actual transition is likely to start in 2014, with the first two multiplexes covering 60% of the population and 50% of the territory by mid-year. A tender for four further multiplexes will be held after January 15, 2015
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 31st August 2010
ASO postponed to 2015
The Government of Romania has postponed the Analogue TV Switch Off date (ASO) to 2015, justifying the change on the grounds that that it will give viewers more time to buy reception equipment, in what are difficult economic times and “ensure a reasonable time in which operators, equipment manufacturers and sellers of technology adapt their behaviour to new requirements.”
The decision was made without consulting ANACOM and will require the repeal of legislation which has recently seen them issuing tenders for two DTT multiplexes.
Moving the ASO to 2015 means that the tender process is likely to be cancelled.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 16th August 2010
Banks support SNR DTT bid
National Telecommunications Company (SNR) has received bids from three banks to help it finance the licence fee for the second DTT licence currently being auctioned by the regulatory authority ANCOM.
Reports indicate that the banks Banca Romaeasca, BCR and Banca Transilvania, would like to provide a loan of €5 million, repayable in quarterly instalments over a five-year period with the first repayment in Q1 2012.
Bids for the two available DTT multiplexes have also been received from RCS/RDS, Romtelecom, TDF SAS, Media Village, ORS and General Satellite Sofia. All bids must be in by the end of August.
Romania will have two DTT multiplexes at first, each carrying seven channels and receivable by a minimum of 80% of the population by the end of 2011.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 9th August 2010
No tender process for third DTT multiplex
The Romanian Ministry of Communications and Information (MCSI) would like to grant the licence for what will be the country’s third DTT multiplex without a tender, reports Broadband TV News.
The MCSI is reported to be has preparing a draft resolution that would result in the National Radio communications Company (SNR) securing the licence by the 1st August. However, the National Audiovisual Council (CNA) has apparently rejected the resolution.
The MCSI believes the SNR is well placed to operate a multiplex as it already has an infrastructure allowing for the national distribution of the public channels TVR1 and TVR2.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 2nd August 2010
Seven companies express interest in DTT bid
ANACOM the Romanian regulatory body has released the names of the seven companies that have expressed interest in operating Romania’s first two multiplexes.
They are local companies RCS/RDS, Romtelecom, Radiocom and Media Village and TDF, ORS and General Satellite who are internationally based. All with the exception of Russia’s General Satellite, which is only interested in a single multiplex, have bought bidding documents for both multiplexes.
The applicants now have until the 31st August to submit their offers, after which the winner of the licence to operate the first multiplex will be announced on the 28th September and the second on the 8th October. Objectors have until the 15th October to file complaints and if everything goes according to plan analogue switch off will be on the 1st January 2012.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 17th July 2010
DTT tender specifications published
ANACOM, the Romanian regulatory authority has announced the details of the DTT licence tender for the country’s first two multiplexes, reports Broadband TV News. The release includes the minimum technical requirements that the bidder must fulfil in order to participate in the contest, the minimum requirements needed if they succeed in their bid and the dates by which the offers must be received.
Offers for both multiplexes must be received by the 31st August. The winner of the first multiplex will be announced on the 28th September and the winner of the second on the 8th October.
The actual selection procedure will take place in three phases: qualification, bid evaluation and award, with appeals initially allowed within three days of notification of the result.
ANACOM has also reserved the right to delay both announcement dates if it has more information to process than expected or if any appeals are lodged.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 5th July 2010
Romania prepares Tender for DTT
ANACOM, the Romanian regulatory authority, has released the terms of reference for the licensing of the country’s first two DTT multiplexes for public consultation.
In the terms, the first multiplex will have to carry the public channels TVR1 and TVR2 as well as the new channels. Applicants for the two multiplexes will also have to have had a company turnover of at least €50 million for the last three years.
The selection process will take place on a points basis and successful applicants must launch services within 90days of receiving a licence.
The successful applicant for the first multiplex will be announced on the 20th September and the second, 10 days later.
The transition to digital television is to take place in stages. By the 30th June 2011 60% of the population and 50% f the territory should be covered, increasing to 95% of the population by the 17th June 2015.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 21st June 2010
DTT subsidies possible in Romania
Marius Fecioru, the state secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Information Society (MCSI) is reported, by Broadband TV News, to have said that the operators of Romania’s first two DTT multiplexes could receive up to €1 million for the purchase of Set Top Boxes (STB’s). The information is attributed to Financiarul.
The two DTT licences are expected to be awarded later this year and may be held by a single company. The multiplexes are expected to carry a total of 16 Free to Air channels.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 17th May 2010
TVR1 and TVR2 awarded DTT licences
The National Audiovisual Council has awarded DTT licences to two of the countries public channels TVR1 and TVR2.
They are expected to join the five leading commercial channels, Pro TV, Antena 1, Prima TV, Kanal D and Realitatea on the countries first DTT multiplex.
The multiplex operator has still to be chosen by ANACOM but is expected to be the national transmission company Radiocommunicatii.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 24th August 2009
Romkatel awarded DTT service contract
Romkatel the exclusive representative of Kathrein in Romania has signed a 12 month contract for the supply of DTT services, beating an alternative offer from France’s TDF.
The tender was organised by Romania’s National Society for Radiocommunications
(SNR).
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 17th August 2009
DTT services tender opened
Romkatel and France’s TDF have signed up for a DTT services tender being organised by Romania’s National Society for Radiocommunications (SNR) reports Broadband TV News. Quoting Media Expres it says that the contract is worth an estimated €833,000 and will be valid for a year following the award.
SNR operates two analogue networks used to relay the public channels TVR1 and 2. Switching them to digital will cost around €50-60 million. Romkatel is the exclusive representative of Kathrein in Romania.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 24th July 2009
Digital transition plan published
Romania’s Ministry of Communications has produced a strategic plan for the transition to digital broadcasting, reports Broadband TV News.
Quoting Media Expres as the source, the item goes on to say that a minimum of five UHF national multiplexes, one national VHF multiplex and a multiplex allocated to regional and local services will be needed.
It is expected that the first two multiplexes will cover 60% of the population by the end of 2010, and 90% of the population by the end of 2011.
DTT services are planned to launch in 2010 and ASO will take place in 2012.
Main source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 24th July 2009
Broadcasting regulations amended
The Senate's Cultural Commission has approved amendments to the existing broadcasting legislation reports Broadband TV News.
The amendments to DTT regulations now require that DTT service providers have only a single licence rather than the two previously required by the National Audiovisual Council (CNA).
DTT services are set to launch in 2010 using the MPEG-4 (H.264 AVC) compression format.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 8th May 2009
Subsidies for DTV possible
The government has said that it might be possible to subsidise the purchase of DTV Set Top Boxes according to Broadband TV News. Around €146 million in funding might be made available to help an estimated 1.4 million households to buy MPEG-4, AVC capable DTT STB’s. At the present time 20% of the population obtain their TV programs from the Terrestrial platform. Analogue switch off is planned to be completed in 2012.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 30th March 2009
Digital challenge
the transition to digital broadcasting will affect 1.4 million homes in Romania according to Broadband TV News.
Romanians, of which nearly 900,000 are in rural areas, will either have to receive digital TV via cable, satellite or digital terrestrial transmissions by the 1st January 2102, when the country completes its switch to digital broadcasting.
The Ministry of Communications (MCSI) estimates that that 49% of Romania’s 7.5 million households get TV from cable and 27% from DTH services.
Terrestrial TV is used by 18% of the TV households whilst 6% are reported as not able to receive TV transmissions.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 9th February 2009
Launch costs for DTT announced
Liviu Nistoran, the president of the country’s National Communications Authority (ANC) has said that the cost of launching DTT services in Romania is likely to reach €300.
The quote was in an article in Media Express which went on to say that he expected that one or two companies would be capable of operating the service, that the €300 was the maximum cost and that cheaper solutions could be available.
Romania is set to launch an MPEG-4 based DTT service sometime next year.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 2nd February 2009
DTT services to launch in 2010
The head of the National Communications Authority (ANC) has announced plans to invite candidates to tender for DTT licenses in time for a DTT launch in 2010, according to Broadband TV News.
The item goes on to say that the ANC will offer a licence to operate the DTT platform, which will provide 10 television programme services using the MPEG-4 AVC compression format.
Legislation to allow for the launch of DTT services is not yet enacted, but it is expected that the government will issue an emergency decree to allow it to take place.
DTT trials run by network operator Radiocom are currently underway in Bucharest and Paltinis. Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 19th January 2009
DTT tender could be in 2009
Speaking exclusively to Broadband TV News, the head of the Control Department of the country’s National Broadcasting Council (CAN), Christian Ivanciovici, said that a tender for DTT services could be issued in 2009.
Romania will eventually have up to eight DTT multiplexes according to Ivanciovici but this could only happen after the country’s audio visual law is amended, a process which should occur during the next 12 months.
Source: Broadband TV News
Item added: 26th June 2008
Digital TV must replace analogue TV
As part of the digital TV and radio plan set out in the recent ITU Regional Radiocommunications Conference in Geneva, Romania asked for frequency allocations for 8 digital TV multiplexes, Hotnews.ro reports.
Romania concluded its agreements in conjunction with bordering countries, Bulgaria and the Ukraine.
In the run up to the completion of the changeover from analogue to digital services over 300 new stations will have to be authorised.
Source: Hotnews.ro
Item added: 26th June 2006
Romania - Ready to launch DTT trials
Romania’s National Audiovisual Council (CNA) will allocate frequency (Channel 54) for a six-month DTT trial in Bucharest.
In addition, a second frequency (Channel 59) is also likely to be made available to commercial broadcasters for DTT tests starting in April or May 2006. The CNA will select the broadcasters to participate in the test on the basis of their content and ratings.
The Digitalisation Council was established in July 2005 in order to source frequencies for a third national DTT network. The network will be reserved for up to 6 commercial broadcasters with national and regional coverage.
Romania has fixed 2012 as its date for analogue switch-off.
Source: Digitag
Item added: 12th December 2005
DTT pilots to start before the end of 2005
Romanian transmission company Radiocomunicatii will launch two digital TV pilot projects in the capital city Bucharest later this year, according to Broadband TV News (Central and Eastern Europe). July 8th 2005.
Radiocomunicatii distributes four channels (TVR1, TVR2, TVR Cultural and TVR International) and allows the national commercial stations ProTV and Antena 1 to use transmission equipment at its sites.
Source:Broadband TV News (Central and Eastern Europe)
Item added: 12th July 2005
Previous
Romania places orders for new TV transmiters
In January 2005, Societatea Nationala de Radiocommunicatii S.A. (SNR), the Romanian network operator, placed a large order with Rohde & Schwarz.
The order, for its TV network, consists of analogue transmitters for both re-equipment and new services.
In addition Rohde & Schwarz will also supply DVB-T transmitters for a pilot project in Bucharest and Galati.
The specific locations will be Bucharest-Herastrau and Vacareni-Galati and the installations will also include head ends, encoders and multiplexers to provide complete DVB-T systems.
The 200 transmitters ordered for the analogue expansion are also easily converted to DVB-T transmission when the transition from analogue to digital transmission occurs.
Source: Rohde and Schwarz press release.
Background
DVB-T was approved as the system of choice by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology in the year 2000. Test transmissions will take place in Bucharest with two transmitters in an SFN configuration
(Source http://www.ero.dk/dvbt-impl)
DVB endeavour to ensure that the information published on these pages is correct, however we cannot guarantee its accuracy. If you have any additional information or corrections please send an e-mail to dvb@dvb.org
Last page update: 28th March 2010, Barry Tew
