DNA wins Finnish HD network build

The task of building a network for the terrestrial transmission of high definition television across Finland has been awarded to DNA.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications has said that signals will be expected to reach 60% of the population by the end of 2011. Construction is expected to get underway by December 31, 2009 and the licence will run until December 31, 2016.

The two licences will run MPEG-4 and DVB-T2, using VHF band III, the first time the spectrum has been used since analogue switch-off was completed in August 2007.

Standard definition transmissions remain in the hands of the TDF-owned Digita.

‘Because of price reductions, households have purchased a number of terminal device types with high definition capability but have not yet been able to utilise their potential and full set of features,” commented comments Riitta Tiuraniemi, CEO, DNA Oy. “As network operations begin, households will finally be able to enjoy unparalleled image quality. We are also confident that media houses will be satisfied with the introduction of new services and pleased with the launch of healthy competition in the market.”

It is a major boost for DNA, which has built a reputation as the provider of cable television and broadband services on a regional basis, having originally entered the market as a mobile telecommunications provider.